Lorraine Williamson
From Málaga to León or Salamanca, a network of rural municipalities encourages the arrival of tourists, both for professional stays and for short, medium and long holidays. Or sometimes even to live there. Rural tourism has been boosted in Spain since the pandemic.
There is a National Network of Hospitable Villages (RNPA). It is a platform of small rural municipalities. They work together to promote the development of professional and holiday accommodations for travellers, for those who seek the benefits of this type of environment to spend a certain period of time. This can be short, medium or long term.
Idea born after the pandemic
The idea for the network was born after the pandemic, when many people turned to rural tourism. Of course, the lack of opportunities to travel abroad was one of the main reasons, but over time (and despite the opening of borders) these experiences, closer to home and in the middle of nature, continued to take off.
Rural tourism is a growth market
Each day, they are gaining more followers. Consequently, the year 2023 ended with a market penetration of 45%, a historical figure that represents a growth of 2.5% compared to the previous year.
The number of travellers who have visited the countryside three or more times in recent months has risen from 54% to 59%. Expenses have also increased by 3.7% to €84 per person per day. In all these places, teleworking contributes to rural development.
Unique natural environments
With these good prospects for rural tourism, the National Network of Hospitable Villages wants not only to encourage the occasional arrival of travellers, but also to encourage them to spend longer periods of time in the different municipalities, “contributing to a positive and proactive rurality”, according to those responsible.
Affiliated municipalities throughout Spain
From León to Salamanca, Seville, Navarre, Guadalajara or Gran Canaria, a list of 43 municipalities are members of the association. It has a total population of 58,700.
The municipalities with the most inhabitants are;
- El Burgo (with 4,926 registered inhabitants), located in the natural environment of the Sierra de las Nieves, in Málaga
- Sigüenza, in Guadalajara (4,356)
- Fabero (4,300), in León
- Milagro (3,450), in Navarre
The fewest inhabitants are;
- Sarnago (with 7 inhabitants), which belongs to the municipality of San Pedro Manrique in Soria
- La Sequera de Aza (31), in Burgos
- Castilfrío de la Sierra (37), also in Soria
Travel through the interior
The latter province is also home to Burgo de Osma, famous for its cathedral and listed as a city by King Alfonso VIII, and one of the most beautiful towns in the region, Sarnago, Langa de Duero and Arcos de Jalón, located at the foot of the Sierra Ministra plateau. Also in Castilla-León is Gumiel de Izán, in the heart of Ribera del Duero.
The route continues in Castile-La Mancha with places such as Orea, Arbancón and Mandayona (Guadalajara), Huete (Cuenca), Letur and Elche de la Sierra (Albacete). In Navarre are Villatuerta, Legarda, Allo, Los Arcos and Barbarin, with only 48 inhabitants. La Rioja is home to San Vicente de la Sonsierra and Nalda, Aragón Oliete and the high-altitude mountain village of Villar del Saiz, both in the province of Teruel.
More affiliated places are Rabanales de Aliste (Zamora), Paredes de Nava (Palencia), Pobladura de Pelayo García, Santa Colomba de Somoza or Almanza, both in León, Aldea del Obispo (Salamanca), Valoria la Buena, in Valladolid, or Madrigal de las Altas Torres, the town in Ávila where Queen Isabella the Catholic was born on April 22, 1451.
Andalucia, the Basque Country and Gran Canaria
In Andalucia, the towns are spread over the provinces of Málaga (Benarrabá, Tolox and Benalguacil) and Huelva (Santa Ana la Real). In the Basque Country we find Cuartango, in Álava. The route ends in Gran Canaria, where Tejeda is located. This beautiful place is part of the Association of the Most Beautiful Villages in Spain.