Inside Spain's smallest city - where fewer than 300 people live and the streets are too narrow for cars

Frias retains a city status that was granted in 1435 by King Juan II of Castile READ MORE: Here are six reasons why Ibiza is a dream destination

Give the masses in Magaluf and Marbella a miss and instead discover a quainter, more romantic - and far less crowded - Spain, with a trip to its smallest city.

Welcome to Frias. With fewer than 300 inhabitants, it's the smallest city in the country. Despite its miniscule size, Frias retains a city status that was granted in 1435 by King Juan II of Castile.

The streets of this medieval citadel are so narrow that cars cannot be driven through them - visitors must park and use leg power to explore.

And there is plenty to see.

There are striking houses that hang from vertical rock faces and an eye-catching 12th-century castle perched on a rocky hill - the Castle of the Dukes of Frias - which affords visitors stunning views of the city and the picturesque surrounding landscape.

Welcome to Frias. With fewer than 300 inhabitants, it's the smallest city in Spain

Welcome to Frias. With fewer than 300 inhabitants, it's the smallest city in Spain

The streets of Frias are so narrow that cars cannot be driven through them - visitors must park outside the perimeter and use leg power to explore

The streets of Frias are so narrow that cars cannot be driven through them - visitors must park outside the perimeter and use leg power to explore

The eye-catching 12th-century Castle of the Dukes of Frias

The eye-catching 12th-century Castle of the Dukes of Frias

Pictured are striking houses that hang from vertical rock faces. Picture courtesy of Creative Commons

Pictured are striking houses that hang from vertical rock faces. Picture courtesy of Creative Commons

One visitor said the castle offers the chance to 'travel back to medieval Spain'

One visitor said the castle offers the chance to 'travel back to medieval Spain'

The castle can be visited for €2 (£1.70), with children entering for free. 

According to Spain's tourism website, it 'has beautiful mullioned windows and offers a breathtaking panoramic view'.

One visitor said the castle offers the chance to 'travel back to medieval Spain'.

Sharing a review to Tripadvisor, the tourist continued: 'Excellent castle in an unspoiled medieval village. This small village is worth the drive.

'Great views from the towers and the windy, narrow streets are unforgettable. Plenty of good food in the local restaurants.'

The castle can be visited for €2 (£1.70), with children entering for free

The castle can be visited for €2 (£1.70), with children entering for free

The Castle of the Dukes of Frias affords visitors stunning views of the city and the picturesque surrounding landscape

The Castle of the Dukes of Frias affords visitors stunning views of the city and the picturesque surrounding landscape

Other tourist attractions in Frias include the Catholic church Iglesia de San Vicente Mártir (above), the small Alfonso VIII Park and the Frias bridge
The Frias bridge (pictured) has a defence tower and crosses the River Ebros

Other tourist attractions in Frias include the Catholic church Iglesia de San Vicente Mártir (left), the small Alfonso VIII Park and the Frias bridge (right), which has a defence tower and crosses the River Ebros

Read More

Is this the UK's most OTT Airbnb? Inside Little Nan's coastal holiday home in Weymouth

article image

Another claimed it was 'worth the drive', while one visitor said the whole of Frias is 'spectacular'.

Other tourist attractions in Frias include Catholic church Iglesia de San Vicente Mártir, the small Alfonso VIII Park and the Frias bridge, which has a defence tower and crosses the River Ebros.

There are also plenty of local restaurants, including Restaurante El Albergue, Ortiz Bar Restaurante and Mesón Fridas, which all serve Spanish cuisine.

You can stay overnight, with the Hotel Rural Frias in the city centre offering rooms from £79 a night.

Frias is in the Castile and León region, less than a two-hour drive from Bilbao on Spain's north coastThe closest airport is Bilbao, but Brits could hop on a ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao and drive rather than fly. The overall trip takes 32 hours with Brittany Ferries.

OTHER NEWS

55 minutes ago

Germany left with one regret before ‘the real Euro 2024 final’ against reinvented Spain

55 minutes ago

South Australian man Troy Smith sentenced in Bali after drug offence charge

55 minutes ago

Survivor of Queensland bus describes life-changing swap

55 minutes ago

Vote like your future is on the line, Scottish Greens tell supporters

55 minutes ago

White House staffers are being told to go heads down and 'execute, execute, execute' as Biden doubles down on his reelection bid: reports

55 minutes ago

Govt forms key cabinet panels on security, economic, political affairs

55 minutes ago

The beautiful beach where you can drive right onto the sand

55 minutes ago

Will Cong tie up with INDIA bloc partner AAP for Delhi, Haryana assembly polls? Jairam Ramesh says…

55 minutes ago

Table Bay Hotel gets billion rand refurbishment, set to relaunch as an InterContinental brand hotel in 2025

55 minutes ago

‘Only a parasite can…’: Congress's Jairam Ramesh fires back at PM Modi over Lok Sabha speech

55 minutes ago

'The most amazing vacuum I have EVER used!' Shoppers swear by this lightweight Shark vac to clean even the most stubborn messes - and it's now over $100 off with our code

55 minutes ago

Royal-approved casual style! The Princess of Wales loves her G-Star RAW pants - and now you can get up to 50% off the best laid-back looks during the brand's big summer sale

59 minutes ago

The Jo(e) glow: How Australia jagged a pair of world-renowned coaches

59 minutes ago

Can you spot the HUGE mistake on banner created for footy star's milestone match for Collingwood?

59 minutes ago

'I went from Euros hero to a football streaker after joining a cult': Former Denmark star opens up on his battle with depression in new autobiography

59 minutes ago

Romania show class again by giving hotel staff a huge round of applause as they leave for the airport... after fans praised the team's post-match gesture following their exit from Euro 2024

59 minutes ago

Wales hand debut to Josh Hathaway in first Test against Australia, avoiding repeat of Immanuel Feyi-Waboso saga

59 minutes ago

Video: Maura Higgins nearly bares all in a racy sheer white dress as she gets glam for Love Island US

59 minutes ago

Manhunt underway after hour-long chase with truck towing boat on Houston freeways, police say

59 minutes ago

Indonesia sentences Australian man to 6-month rehabilitation over drug possession in Bali

59 minutes ago

Indian mother delivers baby on boat as her river island is inundated by floodwaters

59 minutes ago

No clear chomp-ion favorite in hot dog race with Chestnut out

59 minutes ago

Miami Heat add Alec Burks, re-sign Thomas Bryant as roster takes shape

59 minutes ago

It looks like a deal between Paramount and Skydance is back on

59 minutes ago

Tensions with Iran spotlight Israel's hidden nuclear arsenal

59 minutes ago

Arsenal give Man Utd a transfer lesson with Riccardo Calafiori

59 minutes ago

Handre Pollard: Springboks can capitalise on ‘traditional strengths’ with Tony Brown’s attack

59 minutes ago

Statesman, socialist or ‘snoozefest’? Meet the real Keir Starmer

59 minutes ago

AFRAID - Official Trailer

59 minutes ago

‘Farage speaks my language’: Inside Britain’s most pro-Leave town

59 minutes ago

These Are The 5 Summer Hair Trends You're About To See Everywhere, According To Experts

59 minutes ago

European Space Agency develops Lego brick from space dust to build on the moon

1 hour ago

What are Keir Starmer’s biggest issues as he stands poised to enter Downing Street?

1 hour ago

Wild card Lily Miyazaki beaten 6-0 6-0 at start of big day for British tennis

1 hour ago

PHOTOS: Fans of Rethabile Khumalo marvel at new photos after getting discharged

1 hour ago

'Our rents increase by 25 per cent year on year': The London neighbourhood of 'haves and have-nots'

1 hour ago

Scottish low emission zones sees interest in scrapping cars soar

1 hour ago

EU slaps Chinese electric cars with tariffs of up to 38%

1 hour ago

Love Island ‘finfluencers’ deny part in unauthorised Instagram trading scheme

1 hour ago

AC/DC review – a poignant lesson on the power of rock’n’roll