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Cuenca (Spain) Travel Guide

Travel to Cuenca (Spain) - Charming and Ancient City

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Built on a rock, the charming and ancient city of Cuenca offers a unique mixture of nature and human constructions, besides splendid landscapes.

Cuenca was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

The name of Cuenca is believed to be derived either from Latin conca meaning "river basin", referring to the gorge of the rivers Júcar and Huécar or from the now-ruined Arab castle, Kunka.

Cuenca was conquered by Arab troops in 714 for its strategic location, where they built Conca alcazaba (arabic fortress) between two gorges dug by Júcar and Huécar rivers, surrounded by a one kilometre wall. The city became soon an agricultural and textile manufacturing city, enjoying growing prosperity.

In the 12th century, the Christians, living in northern Spain since Muslim occupation, started to recover slowly the Iberian peninsula. Castile was taking over west and centre areas of Spain, while Aragon was enlarging along the Mediterranean area. Al-Andalus, started to break into small provinces under christians' pressure, and at 1100 these ones were near Conca. Conca was conquered by Alfonso VIII , King of Castile, from the Taifa's Kingdom of Toledo in 1177. Previously it had been handed to Castile, under princess Zaida marriage with Alfonso VI agreement, but it was recovered soon by the Muslims in 1108, after Zalaca battle.

During the next centuries, Cuenca enjoyed prosperity, thanks to textile manufacturing and livestock exploitation. In the 18th century, the textile industry declined as Carlos IV forbade it in order to not compete with Real Fabrica de Tápices, which made Cuenca fall into economic downturn.

Attractions in Cuenca (Spain)

Cuenca is home to numerous museums of which the Museum of Spanish Abstract Art. Other landmarks in the city are the Cuenca Cathedral, the Casas Colgadas (Hanging Houses), and the Júcar River. Also popular is the Saint Peter church (Iglesia de San Pedro); with Romanic origins, the church was rebuilt by Jose Martin de la Aldehuela during the XVIII century and features since that moment a baroque façade. It shows an octogonal shape outdoors but it is circular inside, and it is located at Plaza del Trabuco, with near stunning views of the city and the surrounding mountains. A lot of weddings are celebrated here.