Cuenca is one of the most dramatically situated cities in Spain, perched on a gorge where the Huécar and Júcar rivers meet in the Serranía de Cuenca. The old city is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the best-preserved medieval hilltop towns in Europe.
The most famous sight is the Casas Colgadas — the Hanging Houses — a cluster of medieval buildings cantilevered out over the gorge, their wooden balconies jutting into thin air. One of them houses the Museum of Abstract Art, which has a surprisingly strong collection of 20th-century Spanish painting given the remote location.
The old town's lanes are full of Romanesque and Gothic architecture, with the 12th-century cathedral dominating the main square. Holy Week processions here are among the most dramatic in Spain. The local cuisine leans on game, truffles from the surrounding forests, and morteruelo — a rich game pâté that you won't find elsewhere.