There is a town in the heart of Salamanca where the Castilian character takes on another dimension. Candelario has remained in the past effortlessly, protected by its mountain ranges, valleys and forests that have stopped overcrowding and allowed this rural charm of steep streets and flowered balconies to survive to this day. It seems like a trip back in time, but it is only three hours from the capital.
What to see in Candelario, Salamanca
The town of Candelario is full of history of the Castilian high class, which has left monuments and architecture worthy of being recognized as a Historic-Artistic Site. It is a small town and easy to walk around, but every corner will make you stop and admire. From its streets with canals through which the water from the mountains falls to its typical batipuertas, swinging wooden doors on two levels to prevent snow from entering the houses.
Its thick stone facades are regal and sober, but crowned with beautiful wooden balconies decorated with freshly made sausages, which are left to dry in the cold autumn wind. Not in vain, its chorizo is one of the most famous in Spain.
Walking along its impossible slopes you will reach the church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, a 14th century temple that masterfully combines Romanesque, Gothic and Mudejar. Other notable buildings are the Town Hall with its staircase and its 19th century ashlar façade; and its fountains scattered throughout the town, which accompany our walk with the murmur of water.
Where to eat cheap and delicious in Candelario, Salamanca
Candelario, like any town in Salamanca, boasts a cuisine that obsesses food lovers. Their great dishes are eggs with farinato, hornazo or river trout, in addition to sausages, of course. At Mesón de La Candela they have all this and much more, for a price of about 20 euros per person.
What to do near Candelario, Salamanca
The Candelario mountain range that surrounds the town is protected by UNESCO itself, being a Biosphere Natural Reserve full of pines, oaks and immense chestnut forests. Its glacial lakes are like mirrors that reflect the highest peaks, snow-capped at almost any time of the year. Such a setting invites you to take hiking routes and many of them start from the town. There are difficult ones, like the one that goes up to the top of Calvitero peak, or simple and relaxed ones, like those of the Lagunas del Trampal. They are all beautiful and perfect for disconnecting in nature.
In Xataka | The US announces its F-47 as the planet's first sixth-generation fighter. China has told him “hold my cubata”: two are already flying.
In Espinof | Fifty-seven years ago, Robert Redford expanded his one-acre land in Utah by nearly 2,000. He named it after one of his most legendary films.
