Visit Cuenca and a Vineyard in Spanish Tuscany from Madrid
Description
Live Cuenca with an open heart. More than an excursion, it is a journey for the senses: history, wine, nature and excitement in one day. In an intimate group of up to 8 people, we will move away from conventional tourism to discover the soul of this gem between mountains. Cuenca reveals itself as a whisper of stone and air, with its medieval charm and dreamy landscapes. You will walk through streets that keep centuries of history, admire the Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Julian and the Hanging Houses, suspended over the void. From St. Paul's Bridge, the views will steal your breath. We will taste the local essence in a traditional restaurant (each pays for its consumption). As evening falls, the wine will take us to a vineyard, where earth and passion merge. Between barrels and grape aromas, you will live an exclusive tasting and discover the secrets that give life to each bottle. An experience for those who seek to feel, not just look, and find themselves perhaps in the soul of Cuenca.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We'll meet at O'Donnell's Gate with all the members of the group. From there we will start our journey to Cuenca
Arrival in Cuenca - 10:45
Upon arriving in the magical UNESCO World Heritage city of Cuenca, we will begin our dive with a tour of its viewpoints. We will learn how the Arabs built this city in the middle of the gorges of the Huecar River, between imposing rock walls and houses that seem suspended in the air. We will stroll through its cobblestone alleys and climb its steep hills, delving into the secrets of this unique city. Along the way, we will share its history, fascinated by the impressive medieval architecture and its Muslim roots.
We will explore this gem of Gothic architecture, built in the 12th century, through its impressive interior chapels, loaded with history and symbolism. In addition, we will discover the unique fusion of scientific and religious elements that make this cathedral a unique monument of its kind.
The Hanging Houses of Cuenca are one of the most emblematic icons of the city and an impressive example of medieval architecture. Built between the 14th and 15th centuries, these houses appear to defy gravity by peeking over the edge of a cliff that overlooks the Huecar River. Originally there were many more, but today three are preserved. We can admire its wooden balconies that offer spectacular and unique views of the natural environment, creating a harmonious combination of historical heritage and landscape beauty.
Lunch stop: we will pause so that you can eat quietly and without rush in a local restaurant, as we assure them that in our adventure the idea is that you can enjoy, relax and appreciate Cuenca to the rhythm of our small group.
Before embarking on our return, we will visit a local vineyard staffed personally by its owner. There he will explain the process of making his wines, while enjoying a sunset tasting, surrounded by fields that evoke the essence of the so-called “Spanish Tuscany”.
Departure to Madrid. We'll drop them off at the same place we picked them up.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(40)
This was a really fun day. The town is very cute and the winery owner is fun. It’s about an 22 hour day.
We had an amazing time on this tour. Meeting place was very easy to find and we left punctually. There were only 6 people in our group which was very nice. Though, they squeezed us all into a car which was quite tight. One couple had to cram in the very back seat, we had to sit three wide in the middle row (which was very cramped), and one lucky person got to sit up front. For a two-ish hour car ride each way, this was less than ideal and probably my least favorite part of the trip. Our tour guide was great though and provided great information and stories about the area. Cuenca is absolutely breathtaking and a fantastic place to visit. Lunch was not included but our tour guide said he had a reservation for all of us if we wanted to join. This sounded nice and convenient, but upon looking at the restaurant, none of the group decided to join as it was very expensive (Michelin- rated and everything). Our guide didn't really give us an other suggestions so we just wandered and found a good place on our own. We then headed to the winery which was very interesting. It is a very small winery and apparently the owner forgot we were coming so we waited outside until he could get there. The owner was very nice and funny and our wine "samples" were basically him filling a pitcher straight from the cool clay jars full of wine in the basement. He built the entire place himself and manages it on his own. He then took us upstairs where there was gorgeous views of the surrounding area and baked us some flatbreads. Overall, fun trip with intimate experience.
Cuenca is an extremely beautiful and interesting place to visit, and the small group format, with no more than six in the group is a particularly pleasant way to share the trip experience. The single factor that transforms a good day into a memorable day is the quality of the tour guide, who is essentially there to ensure that everyone on the trip has a positive experience. On this trip we were particularly fortunate to be looked after by Tim, who was very welcoming, personable and attentive throughout the day. Thank you Tim - you did a great job!
the City is amazing and our guide was very knowledgeable, the winery is a little underwhelming to be honest. The winemaker is fairly new at making wine and you tell by the taste. First thing i smelled in most of the varieties was alcohol. But you make the best of the situation and drink up. Our group was amazing which made the day a good one.
This is amazing tour. Pablo is the best tour guide we had him twice this week and he was wonderful - the city itself is a steep walk. The winery was not fancy on the outside but was the best time with the Enrique the wine maker and his lovely family I will remember this tour for ever.
It was an A1 service, Pablo our guide was always attentive to the group, taking care of every detail, you can tell that he is a very prepared person and likes what he does, then when we arrived at the vineyard we were greeted by Don Enrique who taught us his winemaking process but more than that, he taught us a lot about kindness and hospitality... made us spend an afternoon as if we were in family. Undoubtedly an experience I would repeat again
This is a very attractive tour, to a city southeast of Madrid, which has all the enchantments of the cliffs, Cathedral, history and not so crowded roads and plazas. Very well recommended for a day trip combined with a visit to the Bodega of Enriaue Moreno in the area was an excellent choice. Thank you to the excellent guide Andres and driver Millo, great treatment and information. It was great to spend the day with the whole group. Thanks again.
Loved everything about this tour! I’ve also done excursions to Toledo, Escorial, Segovia, and Avila and I’ll say that Cuenca was my favorite out of all of them! A must-see!
When I booked the tour, unfortunately due to insufficient participants, I was rebooked to another tour which is Salamanca and Avila. The tour guide Andres was fantastic, he explained every detail about the place we visited. We went to a restaurant in Salamanca which provides amazing local cuisine that I like it a lot. Andres is an excellent tour guide. Thank you for a lovely day
Very good experience. Basins is beautiful. Very cold for January. Dinner was delicious. Henry's Winery and the wines were divine. He made us laugh a lot.
