we are looking for suggestions on where to spend a few days perhaps in a village to experience rural spain on our first trip to spain. we plan to visit barcelona and madrid and are interested in a beautiful village near either city for a short stay - we like good food, markets and perhaps walks in the country side. we will be there in mid july 2008 so we know it will be hot!!

Hi Colin,

I moved your post over to the Spain forum and am looking forward to reading the replies.

You will love Barcelona and Madrid - especially if you love food and markets!

thanks Shannon, i am having a little difficulty navigating. (newby).

i want to know the quickest way to see if there are responses to my thread.
any tips
colin

Quickest way to find responses to your questions is to keep checking the forum. Oh, did I forget to tell you that it is an addiction?

Elly

Colin (and Elly)- if you go to the "notify" button at the top of this thread, you will see it gives you several options for receiving notification when someone posts to the thread, one of which is immediate notification each time there is a post.

Sorry I don't have any helpful information on your quest for a village -- but I will be watching to see what others suggest, as Spain is on our list for the not too far distant future.

Judy

Hi all,

For some excellent scenery and a real taste of rural Spain you could easily take a side trip to the province of Soria. If you are into hiking then the Picos de Urbion are absolutely incredible.

The province of Soria is a plateau in north central Spain, lying on the most easterly limits of the autonomous region of Castilla y Leon. Soria has over 10,000 sq km (3861 miles) of beautiful landscapes and diverse geography, which act as a backdrop to the large concentration of medieval castles, Romanesque churches and timeless villages. All of which lie in close proximity to each other.

I don't know how much to add here because it would be directly advertising my business but I guess a moderator will delete it for me if I have over stepped the rules...

Clive

Have you considered the Pyrenees? Hecho, Torla or Boi might suit, if you like mountains.
Otherwise Besalu in Cataluña.

If the suggestion is not too late for your intinerary, These two villages,are nearer to Madrid and are just off the main Mad-BCN highway, which is part of their charm.
Brihuega, on a river, the year I visited in May, it was ablaze with roses in bloom - everywhere, even right in the main stone plaza. The bull ring sits up on a hill, many streets to walk and good simple restaurants and bar/comidas places.
Medinaceli: once almost a ghost town, now the medeival buildings are being reclaimed and restored. Lots of good strolling and (seemed to me but not atempted due to time) easy access to walking right out of town into the surrounding countryside.
Maybe other more recent visitors to either place can confirm - or update.
KathyK

thanks so much everyone for their input. i think that AT LAST we have now decided on the village. only trouble is - i think i have left it too late. (surprise surprise) the village we have chosen near barcelona is callela pallfrugel. can anyone give me comments on that choice and if possible where i might find some self catering accommodation. does anyone know anyone in the town who might want to have a well behaved aussie family for b and b for 4 nights?