I don't know about you, but I'm already having my summer agenda full of interesting plans, many of them normal weekend or XL, If I add one more night.
And even though you know that I am very urban today I want to tell you why I like them so much rural tourism getaways.
Perhaps because last year we spent a lot of time between four walls or because we just like the countryside… It does not matter, the point is that this summer rural tourism is sweeping and there are many of us who are making plans to spend a few days discovering small and charming towns.
I tell you more, and so you have it in mind when make your summer calendar.
Rural tourism is a trend: are you coming to the countryside?
Not only I say it (that too). The data from the agencies and observatories that are pending the consumer trends.
It is a fact that the pandemic has changed our habits in many ways, and that includes holidays, weekends and leisure time in general: Now we like to be outdoors more.
At least these days I feel like making plans that allow me meet new places (That's always!) but at the same time take me to areas where I can breathe fresh air, away from the busy streets and noise of the city.
Although, I repeat, I like everything and there is an ideal time for everything. And if not, I remind you how much I enjoyed my walks admiring the charm of Parisian architecture.
Or also, the day I designed myself to measure a great New York plan in Madrid, with a visit to the Thyssen Museum included to see the Georgia O`Keefe expo.
But this summer I want to join the trend and have a bit of everything, so I am going to do more rural tourism.
And one of the places that will not be missing is the one that I tell you next.
A proposal? Let's meet Olvera
You may not know where Olvera is. Nothing happens, I tell you: it is a town in Cádiz that has been chosen Capital of Rural Tourism 2021 in Spain.
Who chooses this are the users of the Rural Escape website, who vote for the different candidates for decide which is the most charming town.
That does not mean that the rest of the candidates are not beautiful places. Daroca (Zaragoza), Yeste (Albacete), Taramundi (Asturias) or Cuacos de Yuste (Cáceres) have remained in the previous positions, to name the first five positions and that you may have saved in the drawer a list of places to visit.
However the winner is… Olvera, so you already have assigned one of my weekends for this summer.
I invite you to see the photos. A hill of whitewashed houses, with that characteristic disorder of the constructions that are being born around a castle.
Because that is what is at the top of the hill, presiding over the photo: the Nasrid castle of Olvera. And, to one side, the church of Our Lady of the Incarnation.
The first thing to do is take a walk I have been suggested to start with the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, to have a point of reference. And from there, cross alleys that wind up to the top.
Before visiting a place I usually read a little about it, so I can tell you that the town center was declared a historic-artistic site in 1983. short hike uphill to the fortress.
Important: choose very well outfit for that ride. I have some comfortable espadrilles, a fresh dress and a hat in mind.
The prize when you get to the top is going to be the views. We are in the Sierra de Cádiz, so I expect they are very spectacular.
In addition, it is an area of olive groves, so I already know what I am going to bring from there: a few bottles of EVOO with Protected Designation of Origin Sierra de Cádiz to dress my salads at home.
Did you know that you can sign up to visit an oil mill, a centenary olive grove and finish off with a tasting of premium oils? Don't let it go, because an oil tourism experience will round off your weekend.
Do you also want to spend a weekend doing rural tourism?
The truth is that there are many beautiful villages and close to home. And it is also a way to get to know new places and promote local culture. Can you give me some ideas to make more plans?