Hunt for ‘rural wonders’ in Spain

A TRAVEL website has closed its annual contest to find the ‘Rural Wonders of Spain,’ with 20 candidates.
Voters on the Homeaway website had until Tuesday to choose between some of the country’s lesser-known towns and villages in an effort to promote Spain’s rural attractions.
One of the locations, Carmona, is just 30 minutes from Sevilla, and situated on a hill known as the Vega del Corbones.  This town is one of the oldest in Andalucia, boasting more than 5,000 years of history, as well as a palace, Mudejar churches, and two Arab fortresses.
Meanwhile, north-west of Valencia is Chelva, also on the list. The capital of the Los Serranos region, this town has history going back to the Neolithic age, with Roman and Iberian roots too.  In the Seventeenth Century, Chelva was shared by its Christian, Jewish and Muslim residents, with the three religions living harmoniously and leaving behind a range of religious buildings.
Other entries include Barruera near Andorra, Valderrobres in Aragon, Ribadesella in Asturias, Santillana del Mar in Cantabria, Almagro in Castilla La Mancha, and Cuella in Castilla Leon.