Medieval Cities Network highlights historic sites in Spain and Portugal

The Network of Medieval Cities and Towns (Red de Ciudades y Villas Medievales) offers a cultural route through some of the best-preserved medieval sites in Spain and Portugal. The network currently includes eight destinations: Almazán, Estella-Lizarra, Hondarribia, Laguardia, Marvão, Santo Domingo de la Calzada, Sigüenza, and Valencia de Alcántara.

Almazán, located in Soria along the Duero River, is a key stop on the route. The town features 12th and 13th-century medieval walls that allow access to the historic district through major gates such as Puerta de la Villa, Puerta de Herreros, and Puerta del Mercado. The town's history is linked to its defensive origins, with its name potentially deriving from an Arabic fortification meaning ‘The Fortified’.