Cuenca is a magical spectacle standing dramatically above a river gorge with its famous ‘hanging houses’. clinging to steep, rocky slopes. This UNESCO World Heritage city is one of the most beautiful medieval towns in Spain. With its cobbled streets, village square and old mansions, Cuenca has beautifully preserved its Old World character. Tourists enjoy wandering the ancient streets and discovering picturesque alleys and hidden corners. Fascinating historical monuments and beautiful views can be found at every turn. Cuenca also has excellent art museums and festivals. For a rewarding cultural experience, visit during Easter to attend the Festival of Religious Music.
1 Casas Colgadas (Hanging Houses)
Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Hanging Houses are the most emblematic and famous place in Cuenca. Cuenca’s picturesque Casas Colgadas are reached via Calle Obispo Valero, built on the edge of a steep cliff overlooking the Huécar River. The houses cling more precariously to the cliff face with their balconies jutting out over the precipice. The entireHuécar Gorgewas originally lined with hanging houses, but only three remain. These remarkable medieval buildings were beautifully restored in the early 20th century. The house on the left is known as theCasa de la Sirena (House of the Mermaid).
Address: Obispo Valero Street
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2 Museum of Spanish Abstract Art
The Museum of Spanish Abstract Art is located in one of the Casas Colgadas. Suspended dramatically above a sheer cliff face, the building features three levels of gravity-defying balconies that rise above the river gorge. The 15th century house has been completely renovated, but still reveals the original architectural elements, including the details of the wooden beams inside. The museum’s special collection focuses on Spanish Abstract paintings and sculptures from the 1950s and 1960s and works from the 1980s and 1990s. Visitors are amazed by the originality of the collection, along with the variety. The collection includes more than 700 works of art by renowned Spanish abstract artists. Among the artists represented are Eduardo Chillida, Manolo Millares, Gerardo Rueda, Antonio Saura, Eusebio Sempere, Pablo Serrano, Antoni Tàpies, Gustavo Torner and Fernando Zóbel. This is one of the largest collections of modern art in Spain after the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid.
Address: Canónigos Street, Cuenca
Official site: https://www.march.es/arte/cuenca/?l=2
3 Convent of the Discalced Carmelites
This beautiful Baroque monastery was a spiritual home for the Carmelite order of nuns in the 17th century. The monastery is located at the highest point of Cuenca with beautiful views of the Huécar River Valley, an area listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The building now houses the Menéndez Pelayo International University, which hosts cultural events throughout the year. Tourists can visit the historic church of the monastery which houses the marble and bronze tomb of Saint John of the Cross. The church also exhibits a remarkable painting by José García Hidalgo.
Adres: 18 Ronda by Julián Romero, Cuenca
4 Cathedral of Santa María la Mayor
Cuenca’s impressive cathedral dates back to the 12th and 13th centuries and stands proudly in the city’s main square. Also known as Nuestra Señora de Gracia (Our Lady of Mercy), the cathedral features a mix of Norman and Gothic architectural details. Although the facade was damaged in 1902, the interior is well preserved. Take time to visit the richly decorated shrine; Be sure to see Ventura’s 18th-century main altar and a beautiful Renaissance arch, the Arco de Jamete. A unique triforium in the ambulatory is unlike any other church in Spain. Two artistic treasures are the 13th century Mater Dolorosa by Pedro de Mena in the sacristy and aCrucifixion by Yáñez de la Almedina in the Capilla de los Caballeros.
Attached to the cathedral is thePalacio Episcopal (Bishop’s Palace). The lower floors of the Episcopal Palace are home to the Diocesan Museum, which showcases the cathedral’s exceptional art collection. Be sure to check out the Christ on the Cross and Prayer in the Garden of Olives paintings by El Greco. Other treasures include the 13th-century Byzantine diptych of Mount Athos, the work of the noble goldsmith, elegantly crafted altarpieces, ancient liturgical objects and valuable tapestries.
Addresses: 1 Bishop Valero, Cuenca
5 Cuenca Parador
Cuenca Parador
In a commanding position above the Huécar Gorge and opposite the hanging houses, the former Monastery of San Pablo has been transformed into a luxury hotel, part of the Spanish national Parador association. Built between the 16th and 18th centuries, the monastery is located on the outskirts of Cuenca in a dramatic and serene setting. With its steep walls at the edge of the cliff, the building seems to grow out of the rocky promontory. The views are sublime, with the Hanging Houses and the San Pablo Bridge in the distance. Designed to pamper visitors, the Parador de Cuenca has luxurious, modern rooms and an elegant gourmet restaurant in the historic dining room (once used by monks). Tourists will enjoy the restaurant’s traditional regional cuisine.Specialties includeajoarriero (cod-potato pasta), Manchego cheese, truffle eggs, and alajú (a confection made with nuts and honey). The monastery’s Gothic church has been converted into a charming café and the monastery is now enclosed in glass.
Address: Paseo Hoz del Huécar, Cuenca
6 Religious music week
For those planning to visit Cuenca in late March and early April, this festival of religious music is a top attraction that coincides withEaster celebrations. Cuenca’s religious music week presents concerts of sacred music performed by world-class orchestras, soloists and choirs. Adding to the experience are the beautiful concert halls, including theCathedral,Las Carmelitas Monastery, andSan Miguel Church. Some performances require tickets, others are free.
Official site: https://www.smrcuenca.es/portal/lang_en/tabid_26462/home.aspx
7 Oratory of San Felipe de Neri
The Oratory of San Felipe, which exemplifies the graceful Rococo style, was designed by the architect José Martín de Aldehuela, built in 1739 and restored in 1989. The church has a single barrel with a barrel vault in the shape of a Latin cross. The simple exterior is a beautiful interior with fanciful Rococo details, especially the side chapels and decorative columns with beautiful capitals. Tourists can only visit the church during worship hours.
Address: Andrés de Cabrera Street, Cuenca
8 Church of the Virgin of Light
This beautiful church dedicated to the Virgin Mary is also known as San Antón, after the patron saint of the city. The building dates back to the 16th century and was completed in the 18th century with a beautiful rococo interior in contrast to the austere exterior. An old monastery is also connected to the church. A precious object in the church is the Black Madonna, typical in medieval pilgrimage churches. In the Auvergne region of France, many of the ancient churches possess similar black virgin figures that are sacred to pilgrims.
Address: St. Lazarus Street, Cuenca
9 Our Lady of Sorrows
The scenic walk along Calle Pilares to this 17th-century shrine gives visitors the impression of a pilgrimage. Arriving at the Nuestra Señora de las Angustias, tourists discover a beautiful Baroque church dedicated to the patron saint of the diocese. The church was built on the site of an older hermitage that once stood here. It is a custom for visitors to kiss the cloak of the Viernes de Dolores (Friday of Pain) Madonna.
Adres: Descent of Anguish
10 Museo de Cuenca (Museum of Archaeology)
The Museo de Cuenca is located near the Hanging Houses and is a worthwhile stop for tourists interested in Roman archeology time. The collection features antiquities discovered in the area around Cuenca, which had an important ancient Roman settlement. A highlight of the collection is the first-century marble bust of Lucius Caesar. Other interesting exhibitions include the reconstruction of an ancient Roman kitchen and an assortment of antique Iberian dolls.
Address: 6 Calle Obispo Valero, Cuenca
11 San Julian Seminary
This beautiful seminary was built in 1745 on the site of the Palace of the Marquis of Siruela. Tourists can admire the beautiful Baroque facade, but unfortunately cannot view the interior because the monument is not open to the public.
Address: Plaza de la Merced, Cuenca
Where to Stay in Cuenca for Sightseeing
We recommend these beautiful hotels and guesthouses near Cuenca’s charming old town:
- Parador de Cuenca: luxury parador, 16th century former monastery, hanging houses and views of the old town, antique furniture, outdoor pool.
- NH Ciudad de Cuenca: mid-range pricing, spacious rooms, modern decor, free parking, fitness center and sauna.
- Hotel Convento del Giraldo: affordable prices, 17th century building, a few steps from the cathedral, exposed beams.
- Posada de San Jose: great value bed-and-breakfast, beautiful views of the Huécar River Gorge and the cathedral, original wood-beamed ceilings, friendly staff.
Day trips from Cuenca
La Ciudad Encantada (Rock Formations “Enchanted City”)
An incredible geological site located just 36 kilometers from Cuenca via the romantic and rugged Valley of Júcar. The scenic drive offers beautiful views of the city and valley. La Ciudad Encantada (“Enchanted City”) is a stony labyrinth of rocks, caves, lakes and waterfalls that, with a little imagination, can be seen as a ruined city with its houses and streets and squares. The rock formations are the result of erosion carved out of the sedimentary rocks, over many thousands of years.
Monastery of Uclés
About 70 kilometers from Cuenca, the town of Uclés was founded in the 10th century by the Order of Saint James. During this period, Uclés was the capital of their area, although the Knights of St. James later moved to Malta. The Monastery of Uclés was built between the 16th and 18th centuries in Renaissance style (although the southern facade is Baroque). The front doors are decorated with shells on St. James’s Cross, the symbol of pilgrims traveling the medieval “Way of Saint James” walked to Santiago de Compostela. The building is arranged around a beautiful courtyard with a double cloister and has a sense of serenity and harmony. In the center of the courtyard is a Baroque well decorated with the coat of arms of the Order of Saint James. The 16th-century church of the monastery has a beautiful paneled ceiling and medallion portraits of the Grand Masters of the Order. Tourists can visit the monastery on a guided tour, available by appointment.
Address: Calle Castillo 16450 Uclés
Belmonte Castle
Belmonte Castle is one of the most impressive fortresses in the Castile-La Mancha region. Standing on San Cristobal Hill, the 15th-century Gothic Mudejar castle was built for Don Juan Pacheco, Marquis of Villena, for use as his private residence. The imposing medieval castle is shaped like a six-pointed star. Cylindrical towers contribute to the fairytale look.
Addresses: Calle de Eugenia Montijo, 16640 Belmonte
Official site: https://castillodebelmonte.com/en/
Ancient ruins in Segóbriga
Ancient ruins in Segóbriga
This archaeological site in Segóbriga reveals fascinating remains of a Romanesque settlement from the first and second centuries. The excavation site includes the theater of the ancient city, the amphitheater, the basilica and thermal baths. The remains of these beautiful buildings indicate that Segóbriga was an important administrative center of the region. Guided tours of the site are available.
Adres: Carretera Carrascosa de Campo to Villamayor de Santiago, Segóbriga
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