If you're looking for a window on the Spanish soul, head to Castilla y León. This is Spain without the stereotypes: with vast plains, spectacular mountain peaks and evocative medieval towns and villages. Experience fabled cities like Salamanca and Segovia. The walls of Ávila have similar appeal, while the cathedrals of León and Burgos are among Europe's most impressive. As with most of Spain, food here is an obsession, promising the country's best jamón (cured ham), roast lamb and suckling pig.
Get out the copas (glasses) for La Rioja and some of the best red wines produced in the country. Wine goes well with the region's ochre earth and vast blue skies, which seem far more Mediterranean than the Basque greens further north. This diverse region offers more though, and a few days here can see you mixing it up in lively towns and quiet pilgrim churches.
These are the top experiences and sights in Castilla y León & La Rioja, according to Lonely Planet.
