Spain’s most underrated cities
The concepts underrated or overrated imply a true value has once been given to something and subsequently, recognised — for better or for worse — to be mistaken. This ambiguity stems from the fact that most times, it is quite challenging to truly establish the value of something.
With that in mind and clearly aware that these are subjective terms, we want to go over what some might call Spain’s most underrated cities. Some of these places might receive fewer visitors or be unduly overlooked. Some may simply have been eclipsed by illustrious nearby attractions and simply await discovery. Based on surveys conducted by the Instituto Nacional de Estadística (“National Institute of Statistics”), we have selected five cities whose real values should be reassessed.
San Martiño cathedral in Orense. | Shutterstock
Orense has paid a price for being the only city in Galicia not located on the sea, although, curiously, it is known as the city of water. The Miño river, fundamental to Galicia’s geography, dominates the city. Additionally, Orense’s famed thermal waters are a delight to those who come seeking its benefits. Especially popular in the heart of town are the Burgas baths, whose temperatures reach sixty degrees Celsius.
Apart from this, Orense is extraordinarily located among hills in the heart of nature and has numerous monuments, such as the twelfth-century cathedral of San Martiño and its spectacular Gate of Paradise — rivalling the beauty of Santiago de Compostela’s Gate of Glory. Orense is full of medieval flavour and streetlife. Unjustly overlooked, Orense is a city waiting to be discovered.
The Roman amphitheatre at Tarragona. | Shutterstock
Despite being a Mediterranean city and perhaps due to the many tourist destinations in the area, Tarragona has not received the attention it deserves. Its history dates back to 217 BC, making it one of the Iberian peninsula’s oldest settlements. Known as Tarraco by the founding Romans, there are many remnants of this civilisation still to be seen today.
Located along the sea, the Roman amphitheatre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the best-preserved constructions of its kind in the world. Also noteworthy is the Ferreres aqueduct, which runs along the outskirts of the city. And it must not be forgotten that Tarragona breathes to the beat of the Mediterranean.
The main square of Soria. | Shutterstock
The British newspaper The Telegraph recently published a similarly-related article dedicated to Spain’s unsung cities. While the average foreign visitor might undervalue the beauty of such places as Salamanca, the Spanish visitor could easily make the same mistake with Soria, a place that receives far fewer visitors than Salamanca. And Soria is worth discovering.
Among Soria’s many sites, the late twelfth-century and subsequently renovated Romanesque church of Santo Domingo stands out. The church of San Juan de Rabanera, also dating from the same century, is a designated Cultural Heritage Site as well. The arches of San Juan de Duero monastery among the ruins rest at the foot of the very mountain that inspired the renowned Spanish poet Bécquer to write El Monte de las Ánimas, thus weaving together history and legend. The poet Antonio Machado and other artists have likewise succumbed to the charms of Soria.
The Plaza Alta in Badajoz. | Shutterstock
Extremadura’s largest city is also one of the least visited by Spanish compatriots who have yet to discover this beautiful land in Extremadura. Badajoz not only has a precious old quarter, but also Europe’s largest Moorish citadel in a near perfect state of conservation. The Espantaperros tower within the citadel was a precursor to Seville’s famed Torre del Oro (“Tower of Gold”). It has similar shapes and colours, but dissimilar recognition.
Badojoz’s Plaza Alta is one of Spain’s most splendid and curious squares, dating back to the Middle Ages when it was once a thriving market square. The sixteenth-century Palmas gateway is perhaps the city’s most well-known symbol. This gateway leads to the eponymously named bridge over the Guadiana river that brilliantly lights up at nightfall. In spite of having all this and much more, Badajoz continues to be one of Spain’s most underrated cities.
The old cathedral in Cádiz. | Shutterstock
A recent New York Times exposé on charming Cádiz characterised this Andalusian city as an ‘underdog’ for the foreign visitor — and perhaps for the domestic tourist as well, who mainly opts for other nearby places on the southern coast. Cádiz is not as popular a tourist destination as one might think, often eclipsed by other Andalusian cities like Seville, Granada and Córdoba.
In addition to the beaches around the city, Cádiz is an amalgam of cultures as a result of being one of the oldest cities in Spain, dating back to Phoenician times. Many civilisations have inhabited the colourful streets that today boast such mavelous monuments as the cathedral, perhaps Spain’s most singular such construction. Despite Cádiz being a place with its own distinct character, it oddly remains one of Spain’s most underrated cities.
