Siguenza

The ancient university town of Sigüenza dates back to Roman, Visigothic, and Moorish times and still has splendid architecture and one of the most impressive gothic cathedrals in Castile. It’s one of the rare Spanish towns that has not surrendered to modern development and sprawl. If you’re coming from Madrid via the A2, the approach, through craggy hills and ravines, is dramatic. Sigüenza is an ideal base for exploring the countryside on foot or by bike, thanks to the Ruta de Don Quixote, a network of paths named for Cervantes's literary hero that passes through Sigüenza and nearby villages.