"Hasta la vista" is a Spanish expression that literally translates to "until we see you." It's used as a farewell greeting and means something like "see you later," "see you later," or "farewell." The routes under the Hasta la Vista umbrella all have in common that they head towards the Spanish sun, and along the way you'll encounter (almost) forgotten sights, refresh your memories, and relive the joy.

This route begins in Casas-Ibáñez, one of the wine villages in La Mancha's Manchuela wine region. It ends in the historic town of Cehegin, just east of the holy city of Caravaca de la Cruz.

Casas Ibáñez is part of the Manchuela wine region. Visiting local wineries for tastings and tours is a highlight. The Plaza Mayor, the central square, is the heart of the town and is surrounded by historic buildings, shops, and local cafés. The church of San Juan Baptista is a striking landmark with historical and architectural significance. After refueling, drive to the beautifully situated clifftop village of Alcalá del Júcar.

Alcalá del Júcar is situated at an altitude of 596 meters, overlooking the Hoz de Júcar gorge, formed by the Júcar River, which winds its way for 40 kilometers from Albacete. The whitewashed houses, built in "balcony style," cling to the steep slopes. The fertile fields lend a green accent to this town, crowned by an Arab castle. The village is listed as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in Spain: Los Pueblos mas Bonitos de España (The Most Beautiful Villages of Spain). During your visit to Alcalá, you're likely not the only one wandering its streets. Especially not on weekends, when it's a popular destination, especially for Spanish tourists!

After your visit, you'll drive through the gorge that the Rio Júcar has carved some 20 meters into the limestone bedrock. The narrow road offers views of the many rock dwellings, which, a little further down the gorge, appear to have been built into a village. The front is often no deeper than three or four meters, but it protects the inhabitants from the fierce sun and heat. The valley deepens, and high above the river stands the large fortress. Below, several stories have been carved into the canyon. Even halfway up the rock face—still some 25 meters—the windows begin. In some places, there are at least five stories. So, there must be a vast network of tunnels in the mountain!

You follow the river west. Further on, you'll see another clifftop village, Jorquera, perched high above the river. This village is also worth a visit. Jorquera achieved great glory during the Iberian, Islamic, and Christian periods.
Here too, the houses are perched on the edge of a cliff overlooking the Júcar River, giving the village a unique appearance and location. The cliff and the houses form an impressive ensemble. The village is surrounded by impressive Moorish walls dating back to the 12th century and boasts a rich history dating back to the Reconquista. Besides its historic center with its Gothic-Renaissance church and Baroque mansions, Jorquera offers panoramic views of the gorge.

Continue through the gorge until the road turns left out of the gorge and you see a huge fort in the distance. That's where you'll find coffee.
Chinchilla de Monte-Aragón, a charming historic town also with cave dwellings, is ideal for this. Because there's so much to see, you can combine coffee with a visit. The imposing castle was built in the 15th century. In the last century, it served as a prison. Only the exterior is currently open to the public. Chinchilla's churches and monasteries testify to the town's importance after it was conquered from the Moors and transformed into a Catholic stronghold. In its heyday, there were no fewer than 18 churches here. The medieval town boasts many narrow streets lined with Mudéjar-style houses. Remains of the old city wall and several Arab baths are still visible. Strolling through the streets, you'll see many houses with coats of arms from the 16th and 17th centuries; unfortunately, many are in poor condition. The Hondon district still has cave dwellings, carved into the soft tuff. In the Plaza Mayor, you'll find the 15th-century Gothic church of Santa Maria del Salvador and the Ayuntamiento (Town Hall), with a façade dating from 1509 and adorned with a statue of Charles III. Opposite the Town Hall is the 17th-century prison. The 14th-century Santo Domingo Convent boasts an interesting cloister. Other interesting buildings include the Hospital of San Julián and the remains of the Convent of Santa Ana.

After Chinchilla, you reach the plateau with its panoramic views; this is a piece of Don Quixote's La Mancha. It is an arid, vast region that received its name from the Arabs (Al Amankha means dry earth). La Mancha became world-famous thanks to Miguel de Cervantes' literary work "Don Quixote," in which the great fictional character was immortalized thanks to "the knight of the sorrowful countenance." Here run the roads through which Don Quixote and his servant Sancho Panza roamed. Some villages are still recognizable, and the windmills against which Don Quixote fought also remain. La Mancha, a region rich in grain and wine production, was faithfully depicted by the poet in his novel.

The next stop is for lunch in Liétor. Perched above the Mundo River gorge, the village impresses with its foundations carved into the rock and its houses overlooking the river. The rock absorbs the village to the very edge, cleansing it and adorning it like an urban wig. The old wall once existed only on the other side of the river, as the cliff and the Mundo River formed a defensive and natural moat on the opposite bank. The historic center of Liétor is well worth a visit and is known for its cobbled streets, manor houses, and churches. The Santiago Apóstol Church is a modest building in the Baroque style with neoclassical influences. The Baroque altarpiece in the Espino Chapel and the dome that covers it are striking. The old convent of the Carmelite Friars of San Juan de la Cruz, with its unmistakable painted cloister, is also worth a visit. And the chapel la Ermita de Belén, declared a historical monument, whose colorful murals decorated with naive lines are considered the best collection of traditional 18th-century paintings in the country.

After lunch, you'll continue your route across the plateau to the Cenajo reservoir. Here, the province of Albacete transitions into the province of Murcia. If the arid landscape has made you thirsty, or you simply fancy a drink, the town of Calasparra is happy to lend a helping hand.
Calasparra is known throughout Spain as the first place in the world to have rice with its own name (since 1986). In the fertile lowlands of the Segura River, it cultivates various varieties such as Balilla x Sollana and Bomba. Another tourist attraction in Calasparra is Nuestra Senora de la Esperanza, a sanctuary dating back to the 17th century. Legend has it that if anyone tries to take the statue of the Virgin, she will make herself so heavy that everyone knows she belongs there.

Cehegín is a picturesque wine village, situated at an altitude of 570 meters in the northwest of the Murcia region. It is located 6 km east of the Basilica Santuario de la Vera Cruz in Caravaca de la Cruz. It is a town with a rich history of Iberians, Visigoths, Romans, Moors, and Christians, all of whom have left their mark. It is a pleasant and lively village with a wide variety of rural houses and churches.
The Bullas "Denomination of Origin" (DO) wine region is a very old wine region, but the youngest DO wine region (1982) in Murcia. The wine towns here are Bullas and Cehegin. This region now produces good wines, especially reds made from the Monastrell grape. Lighter, fresher red wines with more acidity and fruit are also being produced, which could well be the wines of Bullas' future.
The city center, in its 16th-17th-century state, was declared a Historic Artistic Site in 1982 and is considered one of the best preserved in the region. It is the oldest and most traditional part of the city: cluttered, narrow streets and alleys, dotted with passageways, enormous squares, and monuments. There are shops, several good restaurants, and cozy bars. On the Plaza del Mesoncico, you can enjoy typical and delicious tapas in the many gastronomic establishments. It's no wonder, then, that you should end your trip here and raise a glass to a happy ending.