Driving From Madrid to Barcelona and Back Where to Stop
 

I'm driving from Madrid to Barcelona and Back at the end of September.

I'm excited about driving in order to get a better view of the country than the train would give me so please no suggestions about the train. I've done a ton of train travel and a little bit of driving, and am excited for the drive! I also know it is of the opinion of many that I should go directly from one to another and simply day trip out, but again, I'm excited about the drive.

My question is, I'd like to stop for a night in each direction to see something that's not a huge city on my trip.

Driving to Barcelona I was considering traveling south through Valencia first so I could drive the coast up to Barcelona (as opposed to going directly though Zaragoza). Is there someplace you could recommend on the way to stop for a night? I thought it's probably not worth Valencia for one night.

And also someplace on the way back (Where I'd be happy to take a different route).

I'd like someplace that I can arrive late morning or early afternoon have lunch, stroll around, maybe a bit of shopping or a sight, have a nice sleep and then on my way in the AM.

Also okay driving a bit out of the way (thought not dramatically, I'd rather not drive more than about five hours on any given day) if there's something really special worth seeing for a day.

Thanks for the advice!

Spending some time along the way will depend on how much time you have to do a little exploring. There are a number of great detours you could take, but a little more information would be helpful.

Sure Robert. I basically have two days to make the trip in either direction. I'm leaving Madrid at 7AM on a Tuesday and looking to be in Barcelona by late Thursday night. Same amount of time on the way back.

I'm really open to anything with the exception of very large cities.

I understand driving in the east of the country isn't the most scenic, but having never been to Spain before, I'm certain there's someplace that will pique my interest somewhere along the way.

I'm a soon to be history teacher so I'm interested in the history of Spain, (Most specifically Moorish and Roman, will be visiting Cordoba earlier in the trip) or I wouldn't mind an afternoon near the beach, or anyplace with a nice historic town center for walking and shopping. I have in the past in Germany or Italy stopped in towns that have a lesser known castle or ruin.

I was considering a night in Salou or Tarragona or heard about an interesting monastery outside of Zaragoza but wanted to know if there are other options, particularly as I hear the drive to through Zaragoza leaves some to be desired.

If I were you, and had an interest in Moorish and Roman history, then I would head north to the Ribera del Duero first. There is an amazing Roman ruins of Clunia (www.archaeospain.com/clunia). We visited the site this summer and were very impressed.

Further north, in both the Rioja and Navarra, you will find more Roman ruins, not overrun by tourist. Pamplona, by the way, was the furtherest point north for the Moors. The stayed in the area for a couple of hundred years, following the Romans, setting up trading routes, but their influence way minor.

Wonderful suggestion Robert! I just did a quick Google and the ruins of Clunia look pretty fantastic. Going to look further into it. Thank you!

Perhaps spend some time in Teruel (pop. 24 000 and Spain's smallest provincial capital) almost halfway between Madrid and Barcelona. Teruel was the site of one of the worst battles of the Civil War (December 1937-February 1938) and displays excellent mudejar architecture and archeological sites.

Teruel photos: http://www.google.no/search?q=Teruel...w=1379&bih=774

Thanks Kimhe, going to check that out also!

Cuenca is another possibility, and if you do stop there, could you let me know if this still exists?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...57622975757180

You might want to dip south-east of Madrid a little and see Campo de Criptana with its Don Quixote windmills.

Michael, I think I may take a day trip to Cuenca regardless. What's the location of the photo you took?

It's on the wall of the main church in the old town.

If you like Roman ruins, you will also find this archeological park on your way to Cuenca:
http://www.turismocastillalamancha.c...-de-segobriga/

As a guide to Civil War sites in Southern Catalunya, this website is quite comprehensive. Especially the old village of Corbera d'Ebre is very impressive and moving.
Despite its grim past, the whole area around the last miles of the river Ebro is very beautiful, with castles from Templar times, vineyards, small villages.. it's not as "green" as the North of Spain, but far from being a lunar landscape.

Also the huge delta of the river Ebro is worth visiting, with its rice fields and long deserted beaches. A very different world.