The lesser-known Spanish spots that deserve a spot on your next European getaway with less crowds (Image: Getty)
has long been hailed as a top holiday destination with Brits flocking to hotspots like Barcelona, Malaga and more.
But there are many under the radar spots in the country well worth a visit. Two towns, which are both only three hours from the UK, could give you the perfect taste of “authentic Spain”.
Ronda and are stunning areas in that offer everything you could want from a Spanish getaway according to an expert.
journalist James Stewart named these two towns as being the “real Spain” after “walking the footsteps of poets”.
Ronda is a mountaintop city that’s found in Spain’s Malaga province which is dramatically set above a deep gorge.
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Ronda in Spain is known for its cliffside location and a deep canyon (Image: Getty)
is famed for its cliffside location and its deep canyon which carries the Guadalevín River and divides the quaint town.
The region of Ronda is so stunning, Washington Irving, Ernest Hemingway, Benjamin Disraeli and Rainer Maria Rilke all found inspiration here.
Described by Times’ journalist James Stewart as the most “spectacular urban setting” in Europe, the newspaper has lauded the city as an example of “Old Spain.”
Stewart said of Ronda: “Its cat’s cradle of white streets is haunted by the ghosts of Moorish princes, soundtracked by the strum of guitars and the tinkle of fountains.
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Ronda is a mountaintop city in Spain and is famed for its magnificent walking trails (Image: Getty)
Montejaque is a town and municipality in the province of Málaga (Image: Getty)
“You won’t find it written on signposts but you’ll know it when you experience it. It’s the country of pueblos blancos and half-remembered battles and scenery of savage beauty.”
is a town and municipality in the province of Málaga which is part of the autonomous community of Andalusia in southern Spain and is the second Spanish region Stewart praises.
The region is located in the Natural Park of Sierra de Grazalema and is home to one of the most important cave systems in the entire Spain.
The Hundidero-Gato complex is the largest cave in Andalusia, with a trail that’s over 2.48 miles (4 km) long and also has one of the largest bat populations in Europe.
Montejaque is located in the Natural Park of Sierra de Grazalema (Image: Getty)
There’s plenty to see and do in Montejaque including visits to the Fuente Vieja (Old Fountain) and one of the most outstanding monuments of Montejaque, the church of Santiago el Mayor which was built in the 14th century.
Speaking of Montejaque, Stewart wrote: “This Spain should be exactly the sort of thing we seek, rather than a gaudy coast. It certainly used to be, as those early visitors knew.
“Far beyond the vineyard, beneath a vibrating sky, a white village lies among hills; a salt stain on a bolt of copper-coloured silk.”
Stewart concluded: “Old Spain is still out there. It’s not that you need to know where to look. You need to know how.”