EscapadaRural has revealed the names of the top ten finalist towns competing for the eighth edition of Leading Rural Tourism, with the winner set to be announced on April 18, as stated by the platform in a press release. One of the nominees comes from a town in Tenerife.
This announcement kicks off the voting period where travellers themselves are responsible for casting their votes for their favourite rural destination among the top 10 finalists until April 15.
As a novelty for this edition, EscapadaRural has partnered with BlaBlaCar, as “the dependence on cars in rural Spain and small towns is very significant.” In this sense, the platform has connected 6,956 Spanish towns out of the 8,131 that exist by 2023, meaning it has provided mobility solutions to 86% of towns in Spain.
After seven editions, it has been demonstrated that the initiative accomplishes its goal of helping many towns increase their visibility and establish themselves as a significant rural destination, thereby contributing to local development, as mentioned by the towns that have been winners and finalists of the competition to date.
The seven towns holding the Leading Rural Tourism title are: Campo Lameiro (Pontevedra, 2023), Cazorla (Jaén, 2022), Olvera (Cádiz, 2021), Potes (Cantabria, 2020), Santillana del Mar (Cantabria, 2019); Aínsa-Sobrarbe (Huesca, 2018), and Sigüenza (Guadalajara, 2017).
The ten contenders for this edition are Altura (Castellón), Artajona (Navarra); Brihuega (Guadalajara), Cabezuela del Valle (Cáceres), Cómpeta (Málaga), Enciso (La Rioja), Peñafiel (Valladolid), Sant Hilari Sacalm (Girona), Santa Eulalia de Oscos (Asturias) and Vilaflor de Chasna (Tenerife).
House of Los Soler in Vilaflor. / E. D.
Vilaflor
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The organizing website of this recognition points out that it is a town located about 1,500 meters above sea level, making it one of the highest towns in Spain.
“It is surrounded by pine forests, in a mountainous area to the south of Tenerife, very close to El Teide. In fact, it boasts the oldest pine forest in Canary Islands where the Big Pine stands at 45 meters tall, and the Two-Pronged Pine, which at 56 meters is the largest in the country,” the digital outlet explains.
In addition to its offerings for rural tourism, it recommends visiting the Wine Museum House, where visitors can learn about local production, and mentions that among its civil architecture, the Soler House stands out, founders of the town.
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In the urban area, it recommends the church of San Pedro Apóstol, from the 17th century, and the sanctuary of the Holy Brother Pedro, founder of the Order of the Bethlehemites in Guatemala.
