What to see in Cuenca in one day. Much more than the Hanging Houses

Do you want to know what to see in Cuenca in 1 day? It is one of those small cities that captivates you as soon as you visit it and to which you want to return as soon as you have left there.

The city of Cuenca is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it really deserves it because it is a city with an enviable architecture that is worth visiting.

Cuenca can be visited in a very short time as it is not very big. Here we offer you an example of a walk that can be taken through Cuenca.

What to see in Cuenca in one day

If you want to visit Cuenca in one day, we recommend that you do not waste any more time and enjoy some of the following activities and excursions, with which you will discover the city in a fast and fun way:

• Complete tour of Cuenca with entrance to the Cathedral
• Cuenca night tour
• Guided visit to the Enchanted City

If you are traveling in Madrid you can also visit Cuenca, which is not too far away on this excursion to Cuenca and the Enchanted City.

1. The Hanging Houses of Cuenca

Without a doubt, the most famous monument in Cuenca is the Hanging Houses.

These are houses built on the Hoz del Huécar in the 15th century.

The best views of these houses are obtained from the other side of the river, next to the Parador de Turismo (former San Pablo Convent) and that is a good place to start our visit.

The Hanging Houses that survive today are 3 and in two of them, called the King’s Houses, we can visit the Museum of Abstract Art.

Once we have admired these houses from the best location, we can cross the famous San Pablo Bridge, built of stone in the 16th century but today made of iron after the original was destroyed over time.

2. The Cathedral of Cuenca

Once we have crossed the San Pablo Bridge we arrive at the historic center of Cuenca.

The first thing we find is the Plaza Mayor where the Cathedral of Cuenca is located.

Its construction was carried out at the beginning of the 13th century after the conquest of the city where there was a mosque.

It is Gothic in style with some Romanesque elements in which its transition can be seen and its façade is not the original as it was destroyed in 1902 although it was rebuilt following the original style.

Next to the Cathedral we can see the Episcopal Palace, where the Diocesan Museum is located.

3. The Plaza Mayor of Cuenca

In the Plaza Mayor we can also find the Cuenca Town Hall, from the year 1733 and located on some arcades that communicate with Alfonso VIII street, and also the Convent of Las Petras, from the 18th century.

This is a very lively area with bars and terraces and numerous restaurants and is a good place to enjoy yourself.

Crossing the arcades of the Town Hall we will walk through streets with typical architecture and alleys that form a unique labyrinth.

4. Through the Old Town to the Mangana Tower

The steep streets of Cuenca are excellent for enjoying a romantic walk and admiring houses, palaces, churches and convents.

One of those interesting places in this area is the Torre de Mangana, one of the symbols of the city. It is located in the place where a fortress used to be, of which only a few remains remain today, and it could be an old minaret. Today it has been restored.

Very close we can go to the Plaza de la Merced, a very small square but with a lot of charm.

In this square we can find the Convent of La Merced, built in the 18th century and which stands out for its beautiful façade. Next to it we can see the San Julián Seminary, from the same period but not very well preserved.

5. The Castle Zone

Returning to the Plaza Mayor and after tapas in the many bars in the area or trying the typical cuisine in one of its restaurants, we can leave the Cathedral aside.

And continue along the steep Calle de San Pedro, where we can see typical houses and palaces that we will love.

After a slope that will leave you exhausted, you will arrive at the Church of San Pedro, of Romanesque origin and octagonal in shape and which also stands out for its dome.

We can continue going up the Calle de San Pedro until we reach the old Alcazaba, currently called the Castle, of which the tower is preserved and from where we have great views.

In this same area there is a free parking where you could leave the car and make the visit that we have proposed in the opposite direction.

You can find more information on the official Cuenca tourism page.