Requena has a strategic position straddling the east coast area of Spain and the central Meseta. For this reason it has always been a highly coveted town from the times of the Romans and during the period of Arab domination, when it was called Rekina (the fort) and after the Christian Reconquista. Today it is one of the few areas in the region of Valencia where only Castilian Spanish is spoken. Like Utiel, in fact, it was also historically more closely linked to Castile than to the old Realm of Valencia. The Barrio de la Villa is the town?s oldest part, as is obvious from the medieval air of the Calle del Colegio and the other streets leading to the Gothic Iglesia de Santa María. The Plaza de la Villa is the hub of the old town; beneath it there are underground caves or catacombs linked by stairs with the surrounding streets and houses. This square has palaces and mansions such as the Casa de la Inquisición, the Casa del Corregidor or the Casa del Consejo. Requena is also studded with churches, particularly the Gothic Iglesia del Salvador, the Iglesia de San Nicolás or the Convento del Carmen. Next to this convent stands the Artistic-HistoricMuseum, which, together with the ArchaeologicalMuseum, gives us a good idea of its historical and architectural importance. There are also interesting remains of the diverse defensive structures that once surrounded the old part of the town; witness the remnants of the Arab fortress (the keep), the Arco del Ovejero or the medieval arches of the Callejón de Paniagua.

As regards civil architecture, one of the most interesting spots is the Palacio del Cid where, as legend has it, Cid el Campeador made arrangements with King Alfonso VI for the wedding of his two daughters. The surrounding countryside is excellent for hiking.

© Alhena Media