It's official: These are Spain's most beautiful and charming small towns
From white-washed hilltop villages in Andalusia to medieval walled towns in the foothills of the Pyrenees, The Local takes a look at Spain's prettiest places.
Spain might be renowned for its costas but it is also home to dozens of quaint little towns, 35 of which have earned a coveted spot in the Association of the Most Beautiful Towns in Spain.
The idea to start the association, in 2011, came after the success of its French counterpart and first such group, Les plus beaux villages de la France.
"It is our goal to promote preferably rural and small towns," the association says on its website.
Town halls can apply for their town to join the list, but only 20 percent make the grade, winning the right to publicize themselves as "one of Spain's prettiest towns".
To qualify, towns must have a population of under 15,000 and some kind of provable architectural or cultural heritage.
So which towns make the grade? The Local gives you the rundown.
Andalusia
Mojácar
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Pampaneira
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Lucainena de las Torres
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Vejer de la Frontera
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Frigiliana
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
In Aragón
Valderrobres
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Albarracín
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Calaceite
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Puertomingalvo
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Rubielos de Mora
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Cantavieja
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Aínsa
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Anento
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Alquézar
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Ansó
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
In Castilla y León
Maderuelo
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Medinaceli
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Ayllón
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Pedraza
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Urueña
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Frías
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
La Alberca
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Mogarraz
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Candelario
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
In Castilla La Mancha
Valverde de los Arroyos
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Alcalá de Júcar
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Almagro
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
In Cantabria
Santillana del Mar
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Bárcena Mayor
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
In the Community of Valencia
Peñíscola
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Morella
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
El Castell de Guadalest
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Vilafamés
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
In the Canary Islands
Tejeda
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
In Asturias
Llastres
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
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Spain might be renowned for its costas but it is also home to dozens of quaint little towns, 35 of which have earned a coveted spot in the Association of the Most Beautiful Towns in Spain.
The idea to start the association, in 2011, came after the success of its French counterpart and first such group, Les plus beaux villages de la France.
"It is our goal to promote preferably rural and small towns," the association says on its website.
Town halls can apply for their town to join the list, but only 20 percent make the grade, winning the right to publicize themselves as "one of Spain's prettiest towns".
To qualify, towns must have a population of under 15,000 and some kind of provable architectural or cultural heritage.
So which towns make the grade? The Local gives you the rundown.
Andalusia
Mojácar
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Pampaneira
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Valderrobres
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Cantavieja
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
In Castilla y León
Maderuelo
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Ayllón
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Urueña
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Mogarraz
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Valverde de los Arroyos
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
In Cantabria
Santillana del Mar
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Bárcena Mayor
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Peñíscola
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Morella
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
El Castell de Guadalest
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Vilafamés
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
Tejeda
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
In Asturias
Llastres
Photo: lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org
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