Spain is one of the most visited destinations in the world. And not just because of its unique coastal enclaves and its internationally acclaimed cities, but also because of the vast offer of its inland areas. These include the Spain Cultural Routes – perfect routes for those passionate about history, culture and gastronomy to be able to discover the rich cultural legacy of Spain. These are extensive tours that cross broad areas and reflect the legacy of past civilisations and eras, while immersing visitors in the traditions of the villages and regions they travel through.

Although mobility is limited at present according to the epidemiological situation of Covid-19, we will review the five Cultural Routes of Spain so that, when possible, you do not miss out on these unique itineraries.

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More than 100 archaeological destinations with 15 routes of great scientific, cultural and artistic interest form part of the Cultural Route of the Council of Europe entitled ‘Prehistoric Rock Art Trails’ in Spain. These are all open to enhancing the knowledge and enjoyment of society thanks to their archaeological parks, museums and interpretation centres. Rock art, full of symbolism motivated by spiritual beliefs and full of references to nature, is the expression of the first inhabitants on the Iberian Peninsula.

Most of the destinations on this trail form part of the PRAT-CARP Cultural Route of the Council of Europe, and four of these rocky areas form part of the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites: the Altamira Cave and the Palaeolithic Cave Art of the Northern Spain; the Rock Art of the Mediterranean Basin on the Iberian Peninsula; the Prehistoric Rock Art Sites in Siega Verde, and the Risco Caído and the Sacred Mountains of Gran Canaria Cultural Landscape.

Based on a Roman road – although its name precedes the Arab era, in reference to the paving (balata) and not to the silver trade – this route travels through four regions and seven provinces, on an 800 km north-south axis covering more than 100,000 square kilometres, with strong ties to neighbouring  Portugal. Over the course of this route – one of the oldest routes in Spain, travellers can enjoy examples of all the cultures that have passed through the Peninsula, from the Roman world, to the Asturian pre-Romanic culture, the Arabic and Gothic legacies to the rich Sevillan Baroque.

As an important thoroughfare in both Roman times and in the Middles Ages and the Modern Age, this route has some important remains and sites declared World Heritage Sites, such as Merida – with its imposing Roman theatre – and Seville Cathedral. Vía de la Plata Route is also a perfect route to travel along by bicycle, motorbike or car during practically all 365 days of the year, and also has numerous possibilities for those who love trekking.

El Cantar de mío Cid [The Poem of El Cid] – the great epic poem of Spanish literature, written at the end of the 12th Century, tells of the adventures of the legendary knight Cid Campeador, from the time he was banished from Castile until his death as a Prince of Valencia. Camino del Cid is a tourism and cultural route that crosses Spain from the northwest to the southwest, which follows his trail, with more than 1.400 kilometres of walks and 2,000 kilometres of highway covering the places, sites and castles that feature in the poem.

It is divided into 11 thematic routes that, depending on each stretch, can be travelled by car, motorbike, bicycle or on foot. On these routes, predominantly rural and made up of villages with a mediaeval essence, you can enjoy World Heritage Site enclaves, 40 locations declared to be of historical and/or artistic heritage, more than 200 castles, 70 natural spaces, festivals of national or international interest and a rich and diverse gastronomy. The portal www.caminodelcid.org offers all the information you may need.

Carlos I of Spain and V of Germany headed up one of the greatest empires in the history of Mankind for more than 30 years. The  maternal grandson of the Catholic Monarchs and paternal grandson of Emperor Maximilian of Habsburg and Mary of Burgundy, he inherited a vast empire that spanned the Crowns of Aragon and Castile – and hence the dominions in the Americas – and the German Holy Roman Empire – currently Germany, Austria, Switzerland and parts of France and Italy, among others.

Routes of Charles V were created in 2007 to spread the cultural, historical legacy and heritage of the emperor through a cultural and tourism programme surrounding the figure of the monarch, and reproducing the final trip by Carlos V, from the lands that nowadays span Cantabria, Castile and Leon and Extremadura to Yuste Monastery, where he withdrew from public life. Outside of Spain, this route also includes more than 80 cities and historical sites in some ten countries, along the routes travelled by Carlos V between 1517 and 1557. As well as the fascinating history behind the emperor, visitors can discover a rich artistic, cultural and gastronomical heritage.

The celebration of Easter in Andalusia exceeds the merely religious and has shaped itself as a cultural manifestation with artistic, social and intangible heritage with a unique value in the world. Caminos de Pasión routes run through ten municipalities in Andalusia close to the main tourism cities in the region (Seville, Cordoba and Granada), with extensive historical-artistic heritage, traditions, gastronomy and nature associated with Easter. This route also allows palaces, fortresses, churches, archaeological sites and many other monuments of styles from different eras to be enjoyed, as well as walking trails on a natural map formed by lakes, mountains, caves, protected spaces and extensive crops.

As well as a rich gastronomy, featuring its own Denominations of Origin in olive oils and wines, it has hand-crafted products such as cheeses and sweets, all of which respect the essence of Andalusian cuisine.