Inside Spain’s smallest ‘city’ – with just 250 locals, tiny restaurants and a ban on cars
SPAIN’S smallest city is often overlooked by tourists – despite having some very impressive views.
The city of Frias, in the province of Burgos, is les than two hours from Bilbao in the north of Spain.
Despite being a city, it has fewer than 300 locals living there.
This dates back to the 15th century, when the then King Juan II of Castile gave the area a city title so it could be exchanged for the town, Peñafiel.
Of course, while Frias is technically a medieval town, it retains its city title.
The best views are found at the 10th century castle, Castle of the Dukes of Frias.
It overlooks the La Muela rock and Spanish countryside and tickets cost just €2 although kids go free.
Other attractions include the Iglesia de San Vicente Mártir, a Catholic church, as well as the small Alfonso VIII Park.
One of the more unusual ones is the Fuente de las Tejas, a water fountain built on a wall which makes musical sounds when water runs along the tiles.
People have raved about it, calling it both “unspoiled” and like “travelling back to Medieval Spain“.
Another person said: “This place screams out to be a movie set.”
Due to it’s size, cars are banned as the roads are too narrow for them to safely drive though.
Instead, tourists can park outside the city and walk the narrow, cobbled streets which are lined with plants and quaint houses.
There are a number of restaurants, including Restaurante A Fuego Lento, Ortiz Bar Restaurante, as well as the the bar La Roca.
Other shops include souvenir shops, a tobacco shop, bakery, butchers and a pharmacy
You can even stay there, with the Hotel Rural Frias in the middle of the city, with rooms from £79 a night.
There are a number of other B&Bs too which are just outside the city walls
The best way to get to Frias is to fly to Bilbao, with two-hour flights from £24 and then drive around 1hr30.
If you don’t fancy flying, you can even get the ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao – although the Brittany Ferries journey takes around 32 hours.
It’s worth spending time in Bilbao before visiting too, with it being the closest Spanish city to the UK.
The Sun’s Lee Bell visited last year, saying: “As the unofficial capital of Spain’s Basque Country, which is known for its lush green landscapes, Bilbao is a vibrant city that recently transformed from an industrial hub to a modern urban destination.
“Casco Viejo, also known as the Old Town, is worthy of an afternoon stroll.
“As the historic heart of Bilbao, this picturesque district is a treasure trove of narrow cobblestone streets and medieval architecture.”
Everything you need to know about visiting Spain
- Brits must have at least three months left on their passport from the day they plan to leave the country.
- Tourists do not need a visa if visiting for up to 90 days in an 180-day period.
- Make sure your passport is stamped on entry and exit.
- Travellers may be asked to show hotel booking confirmations and that they have enough money for their stay at the border.
- Spain is one hour ahead of the UK.
- The country uses the euro with around €10 working out to £8.55.
- Flights to Spain from the UK take between 2-4 hours depending on the destination.
Also in Spain is Almeria, which was named the happiest city in Spain.
And if you don’t want to go too off the beaten track, here’s how to do a city break in Barcelona – with 300 days of sunshine a year and secret tapas bars.