The most beautiful villages in Spain

There are many charming Spanish towns and villages. A good number of them deserve to be on the list of the most beautiful towns in the world. In the following slideshow, we'll give you a list of spectacular places in mostly rural areas that, since 2011, have worked together as an association to promote and preserve them.

Both the previous image and this one belong to the beautiful town of Puentedey. With just over 50 inhabitants, it is located on a natural stone bridge over the Nela River. A bridge that the inhabitants of the area believe to be designed by God, hence its name: Puentedey. Also noteworthy is the Romanesque church of San Pelayo, as is the Brizuela palace, both built around the 15th and 16th centuries.

Genalguacil, in the Genal valley of the Málaga region, is known as "the gardens of the vizier." The village enchants with its white cobbled and staggered streets, full of flowers and plants.

Unforgettable views are offered by Cudillero, an Asturian fishing village with its own flavor. It even has its own dialect: the pixueto lingo.

The strange distribution of the whitewashed streets of Frigiliana in the Axarquia region makes this town one of the most beautiful of all the white towns of the Málaga area. Pure southern Spain.

Here you will find one of the best examples of the type of architecture known as black architecture, characterized by its slate slab houses.

In the heart of the Picos de Europa, belonging to the Asturian region of Cabrales, we find Bulnes: a parish of just over 30 inhabitants which boasts great beauty and attractiveness. Especially for mountaineers and cheese lovers.

As the French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre said in his day, here we have "the most beautiful of the towns in Spain." Santillana del Mar is not only famous for its architectural beauty but also because it's the location of the Altamira cave, one of the most important discoveries of prehistory.

This town, located in the northeast of Tenerife, stands out for its well-preserved historic center from the 16th and 17th centuries. In 1944, it was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest. One of the jewels of the Atlantic Canary Islands.

This is the highest town in the Arán Valley, at 1,419 meters above sea level. In Bagergue (Lleida), nature becomes the best setting for this beautiful town of stone houses and wooden balconies at any time of the year. It's a great example of the beauty of the Pyrenees.

Guadalupe, in Cáceres, was declared a Historic Artistic Site and a World Heritage Site in 1993. This town was built around the Royal Monastery of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which has witnessed important moments in the history of Spain such as the audience of Columbus with the Catholic Monarchs and the delivery of the caravels with which he arrived in America in 1492.

Perfectly camouflaged in an incredible landscape of limestone modeled by the River Vero lies this impressive town that is a pure delight for hikers, lovers of photography, and ornithologists.

Castellar de la Frontera, in Cádiz, is an attraction not only for its medieval castle (a 12th-century Nasrid fortress around which the village is built) but also for its whitewashed houses full of flowers and its views of a true natural paradise.

Fornalutx, in the Tramuntana mountains, is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful villages in Mallorca (and Spain). It has beautiful streets and stone houses that take us back to another era.

Beget, in Girona, with around twenty inhabitants, looks like a fairytale village. It is located in the Alta Garrotxa, deep in the heart of spiritual Catalonia. A visit to the Church of Sant Cristòfol de Beget (10th-13th century) is a must.

You have to travel all the way to Almería to enjoy Mojácar, an authentic oasis of quiet white houses and 17 kilometers of beaches and coves with crystal-clear waters.

The unique beauty of this village in Madrid has made it the setting for films such as 'Around the World in 80 Days' (1956), 'Circus World' (1964), and 'The Immortal Story' (1968). Its main square, with an incredible 234 green-painted balconies is truly eye-catching.

Agulo, on the Canary Island of La Gomera, has a perfect view overlooking the Atlantic Ocean with the island of Tenerife and the Teide volcano in the background.

The town of Molinaseca was declared a Historic-Artistic Site in 1975. It has more than ten centuries of history and a stroll through its streets is like a journey into the past.

In a perfect enclave (miles from the beach of 'El Palmar', one of the most beautiful beaches in Cadiz), lies Vejer de la Frontera, a town that was inhabited by the most ancient civilisations. The friendliness of the locals, its food with typical local dishes such as 'lomo en manteca' (marinated pork loin), and the beauty of its white streets make Vejer an obligatory stop.

The history of Lerma goes back many centuries, as its location made it an attractive place since Celtiberian times. But its period of splendor was in the 17th century when it became a ducal villa thanks to the Duke of Lerma, who was Philip III's favorite. Its most significant buildings date from that period, such as the Ducal Palace, now the Parador de Turismo.

The village of Roncal is located in the Navarrese Pyrenees, on both sides of the river Esca. It would be a crime to leave the area without tasting Roncal cheese.

Mondoñedo, the capital of the region of La Mariña Central, has a fascinating history. It has held the title of City since 1156 by the concession of King Alfonso VII of León. Among its heritage, its 13th-century cathedral stands out as something truly special.

The proximity of Puebla de Sanabria to the Portuguese border meant that in the 12th century, it became a fortified town. Many of its old architecture has survived to the present day, as has the castle of the Counts of Bevanente, which now houses the headquarters of the Tourist Office. Puebla de Sanabria is also located in a wonderful natural setting, close to the Sierra de la Culebra, where there is one of the most numerous wolf populations in Europe.

Undoubtedly one of the most charming villages in the La Vera region, in Cáceres, Valverde has water running through its cobbled streets. The traditional architecture of this region is notable for its wooden balconies and arcades with granite columns.

In the Mallorcan town of Pollença, mountains of green pine trees meet spectacular beaches and coves of indescribable blue. Here you will find one of the most repeated postcard images of the Balearic Islands: the cape of Formentor and its lighthouse.

A spectacular medieval town overlooking the Mediterranean, Peñíscola is breathtaking at the first sight. It has panoramic views of the coast and Artillery Park, which is full of lavender and olive trees.

The Cadiz village of Grazalema is the highest point of the Sierra de Grazalema. It is surrounded by nature, so it is not surprising that it was declared the first Biosphere Reserve in Spain (1977) and the first Natural Park in Andalusia (1984).

The village of Valderrobres, on the banks of the river Matarraña, is a journey to another era. This town of stone houses is built around the Castillo del Arzobispo castle and the parish church of Santa María la Mayor.

Its caliphal castle is considered to be the oldest in Europe. As if this were not enough of an attraction, Baños de la Encina is also one of the most beautiful villages in Jaén due to the landscapes of its surroundings, located in Sierra Morena.

The town of Nuevo Baztán near the Spanish capital was founded at the beginning of the 18th century by Juan de Goyeneche y Gastón. Following the ideas of the Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Colbert, he wanted to create a small industrial center on the outskirts of Madrid. An obligatory stop on your visit is the Palace-Church of Goyeneche, built by José Benito de Churriguera.