Via Iberica Pre War 2020

Two decades of bold development has given Spain’s third-largest city some of the most striking architecture in the country, adding to the wealth of elegant art nouveau buildings that line the streets, as well as Gothic and Renaissance monuments. With dynamic museums, a flourishing restaurant scene, lively nightlife, great shops and miles of beach, Valencia is bursting with Mediterranean exuberance.

We will be staying in the Hospes Palau de la Mar Hotel in centre of town. We encourage you to book an additional day prior to the rally and discover Valencia whether it be visiting the The Holy Grail chapel which contains what many people believe is the Holy Grail, the cup which Jesus used at the Last Supper or enjoy some tappas at one of the many bars in the old town.

We leave Valencia on the day with the less traffic, while the Spanish families go to church. First we drive into the geological formations east of Valencia along an artificial lake. After lunch the landscape becomes flatter and the roads become straight.

We will be spending the night in the first of a series of Paradores. This ranch-like Paradores is set beautifully set in nature.

We take the smaller empty roads through the fields to the Parque Natural Sierras de Cazorla. Water being a precious resource in Spain, we drive along yet another artificial lake. The road seems to be made for us, fresh asphalt undulates through the pine trees. And since we are here in low season, the roads are empty, just for us !

We found an excellent restaurant overlooking the lake. Of course we will have a delicious lunch there.

The rest of the afternoon we drive in the park until we arrive at the Parador de Cazorla.

It is obvious, we are getting in the dryer regions of Spain, the fields are carefully set out and irrigated. Not only the fields are looking more and more deserted, the roads are deserted too. It is driving at its best while the villages burn in the sun.

After two nights surrounded by nature it is time for Culture. We stay in a wonderful hotel in the center of Cordoba, a city with a vast history reminiscent of the 1001 nights. Actually the Mosque of Cordoba is the most important monument of all the Western Islamic world, and one of the most amazing in the world. But history goes back much further with one of the main bridges coming to us right from the Roman times.

I had wished to stay some more time in Cordoba, but the rally has to go on, and there is just too much to see and enjoy. 

The route will pass the El Castillo de Almodóvar. We can only suggest that you have a stop at this medieval fortress right from the drawing board of What Disney, or was it the other way around ?

Looking at the map you will realise that I am driving from National Park to National Park, this time it is the Parque Natural Sierra de Hornachuelos, a succession of plateaus and rugged gullies, abundantly spills its waters in its search for the Guadalquivir, creating along its transit, orchards full of life.

The roads are just magnificent, great asphalt, slightly hilly, some curves and hardly a vehicle in front of us. And of course another artificial lake. Welcome to the lesser know inner lands of Andalusia. 

Today we leave Andalusia and Spain. The scenery immediately seems to change, the vast arid planes make place for villages, small hills and a much friendlier landscape. What does not change is the artificial lakes. Is in my Dutch nature which is drawn towards them or are there just so many artificial lakes ? The Alqueva Dam holding the waters is one of the largest one in Western Europe.

We cross the lake higher up in order to join Monseraz. The graceful medieval village, maintains the magic from ancient times. Made of lime and schist, the historic village is one of the oldest in Portugal. We will be stopping here for lunch.

From there it is not too far to our final destination for the day. Evora is one of the best tourist destinations of central Portugal, it is a delightful city that exudes Portuguese charm and boasts a vast array of fascinating historical monuments. Evora was historically a major trading and religious centre, a former importance that is reflected in the sheer variety of tourist sites, all of which are all conveniently contained within the city’s ancient walls. Evora should not be mistaken for a sleepy old relic that is reliant upon its glorious past, the city is young and vibrant, with a large student population who attend one of the world’s oldest universities.

And since the Via Iberica is all about having a good time, we will be staying two nights in the center of town.

Since we stay two nights in Evora you have all the time to discover this little gem. Evora is a UNESCO site and has a vast Roman and medieval heritage. 

And if you are just into relaxing there are many terrases and tapas bars where you can relax and mix with the local (student) population.

This all within easy walking distance from our Pousada.

Searching for the best empty roads, natural beauty and interesting locations we follow the border region between Spain and Portugal.

In the parque Natural de Serrade S. Mameda we have lunch in the Pousada Marvão with the best panoramic views imaginable.

Across the border it is the barren steps again, one of the less developed regions of Spain; straight to our hotel in Alcantara. The name is derived from the Arabic word al-QanTarah meaning “the bridge”

We spend the night in the former convent turned into a stylish hotel.

We drive back into Portugal and the vegetation turns green again. It is not long before we hit the most challenging road of the rally so far. The asphalt is still good but a multitude of hairpins bring us above the timber line. The drive is definitely worth it. There are many excellent photo opportunities. Don’t forget your camera, it has some remarkable views.

We are heading for Viseu. The small Portuguese city boasts everything you want in a tourist destination: friendly people, clean streets, mountain sunsets, Roman remains, an incredible cathedral, and more parks than you can shake a stick at.

The Pousada De Viseu is a grand 19th-century building overlooking the old city of Viseu.

We leave Viseu for the enchanted Douro valley, where the Porto wines are produced. But first we have to conquer a small and narrow pass without guardrails. No rally without a small challenge.

Having overcome the small pass, we descend towards the Douro river. A Unesco World Heritage site since 2001, the Douro is a majestic wilderness, one of the oldest demarcated wine regions in the world, but a surprisingly silent place, apart from three bustling weeks of harvest each autumn.

And of course we will be having a wine degustation and lunch at one of the wine houses along the valley.

The narrow, winding roads through the Douro Valley are absolutely spectacular. So much so, in fact, that the stretch to our hotel was voted the best driving road in the world in 2015!  

At the end of a rally we are all less eager to get behind the wheels. So today we have a short day. Plenty of time to either have a breakfast on the terrace overlooking the Douro river or to enjoy the five start Grand Hotel at the end of the day.

However, this does not mean there is no great driving in between. We climb out of the Douro Valley along the wine terraces. At first the region is (relatively) populated but soon we find yet another national park with one road and no traffic. Don’t we all love nature ?

The Vidago Palace Hotel is a hotel like we really want for a rally with classic cars. It has the grandeur and style from long gone times and still the contemporary service.

  The longest day, so it seems. Lets start with the bad news, the last half of the day is over roads which some of the endurance rallies take, you can definitely make your miles in little time.

Today also has some of the most beautiful driving. The Nacional Parque of Penedes-Geres is know for its biodiversity. After each curve the scenery seems to change. It is truly a remarkable region.

We must admit that some of the roads are not very wide though.

We hope to get the permission to park our cars on the Praza Obradoiro in Santiago de Compostela. 

For many pilgrims, Santiago is the end of a long and tiring journey. For us it is the end of a great rally, not as tiring as walking but till demanding on men and machine.

The interior of the Saint Jame’s cathedral is currently under restauration for the holy year (2021). So it is uncertain if we can organise another Botafumeiro for the rally participants. However we can strongly advise you to say another day and enjoy this wonderful city with its many many bars and the daily arrival of pelgrims.

For those who wish so we will pick up your car with a trailer.