Page 390 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

388  CENTR AL SP AIN

7 Street-by-Street: Cuenca

Cuenca’s picturesque Old Town sits astride a steeply sided The Plaza de la Merced
spur which, drops precipitously on either side to the deep buildings contrast with
gorges of the Júcar and Huécar rivers. Around the Moorish the modern Museo de las
town’s narrow, winding streets grew the Gothic and Ciencias (Science Museum).
Renaissance city, its monuments built with with the profits of
the wool and textile trade. The main sight is the cathedral, Museo de las
one of the most original works of Spanish Gothic, with Ciencias
Anglo-Norman influences. One of the picturesque C
Hanging Houses, which jut out over the Huécar A
L
ravine, has been converted into the L
E
excellent Museum of Abstract Art. D
E

S
A N T A M A R Í A

C A L L E D E A L F O N S O V I I I
Torre Mangana C A L L E M O S E N D I E G O D E V A L E R A
This ruined lookout tower at
the top of the town is all that
remains of an Arab fortress.
There are wonderful pano ramic
views from the top.
C A L L E D E O B I S P O V A L E R O

Ayuntamiento

Museo de Cuenca
The collection, covering
prehistory up to the
17th century, includes
an excellent exhibition
on Roman Cuenca.

Key
Suggested route

. Museo de Arte Abstracto
Spain’s abstract art museum is inside one of
the Hanging Houses. It contains works by
the movement’s leading artists, including
Antoni Tàpies and Eduardo Chillida.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp570–71 and pp595–7

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