A
heritage of monuments, history,
art, traditions…these might be
just a handful of the ingredients
that make up the fare on offer on
the tourist route of the Ciudades
Amuralladas/Walled Cities.
The
route wends its way
through the borderlands,
whose past and history
have been marked by the
vicissitudes of warfare
involving Portugal
and Spain. It has
meant that this
geographical area
straddling western Spain
and eastern Portugal has a
valuable heritage of
military architecture,
superbly represented by
the walled
fortifications that
surround the urban centres
of Almeida and Ciudad
Rodrigo.
Today,
the legacy of a common
past has shaped one of
the most attractive
tourist resources for
those wishing to
submerse themselves in history,
for those seeking to
become entranced by Spanish
and Portugueseart
and culture. Over
a route running just 40
km, one can enjoy two
languages and two different
cultures, yet which
are in turn linked by
their ties with the
past, by their present
understanding and by the
common path to be
negotiated in the
future.
Yet
the route does not cater
solely for heritage and
traditions, as travellers
will also be able to taste
the delicious cuisine
on offer, the typical trade
between the two countries
and the local festivals
steeped in history.
The
following sections provide
greater detail on each one
of the attractions offered
by the RUTA DE LAS
CIUDADES AMURALLADAS
WALLED CITIES
ROUTE. They are all within easy
reach.