Madrid Cycling Holidays
Take the Ride of Your Life on a Madrid cycling holiday. When it
comes to satisfying your sporting instincts, and enjoying the wonders
which nature has to offer, there is little in this world that can
improve upon a good cycling tour. So what could be better than to
come to Spain to enjoy some of Europe’s most spectacular and varied
scenery, as well as places of great cultural interest – ancient cities,
monuments of prime national heritage – paths trodden and now cycled by
many in pursuit of peace, spiritual fulfillment, and for the sheer
desire of being in harmony with all that nature’s wonders have to offer.
And if it is not just for those seeking satisfaction from the enjoyment
of what nature and history has come to bestow on a magnificent country
like Spain, there are always the gastronomic and vinicultural delights,
which for most of today’s international travelers, are a pursuit in
their own right. Wonderful Tapas, Paellas, Stews, Roast Suckling Pig or
lamb, washed down with some of Europe’s most renowned and accredited
wines.
 Spain…. a country rich in traditions, colour, emotions, breathtaking
panoramas, and the site of some of Europe’s most significant historic
events, to which so many monuments and landmarks bear testimony…. Come
and enjoy all this, and combine it with the stimulation and vigour of
the cycling experience. Ride where the Romans first walked, and savour,
without the pressures of heavy traffic congestion, or the constraint of
a seat in a moving vehicle, the splendour of Spain’s palaces and
gardens. Consider…. only an hour distant from Madrid, a tour could start
with the ancient city of Segovia, unequaled in its charms: the
cathedral, monasteries, the majestic Alcazar, perched on top of a rock
above the Eresma river, and maybe the most cherished landmark of all,
the beautifully preserved and unscathed Aqueduct. Here is where the
traveler-cyclist is transported back centuries amidst breathtaking
landscapes, and may also encounter those lesser-known gems of history
like the Hermitage of Vera Cruz which harbored, in times gone by, the
Knight – Templars, protectors of the Pilgrims on their crusades to the
Holy Land. Segovia’s Cathedral, built in a stone of a gentle yellowish
hue, is a delight to the eye and crowns the city resplendently.
 Or, at little further distance from Spain’s capital, there is the
majestic town of Avila, a town entirely enclosed by perfectly
preserved walls, and host to some unforgettable treasures, such as the
Monastery of Santo Thomas, which, amongst others preserves some
magnificent works of art.
And not least adapted to the needs of the traveler-cyclist in search of
a more leisurely tour, is the palatial town of Aranjuez, just to
the south-east of Madrid – here a cycle tour is pure relaxation: once
the site of the country’s Royal residence, the city offers the beauty of
a Palace and pleasant avenues shaded by rows of imposing trees – a
smooth and gentle ride.
But the destination which many seek out for its
historic and cultural
heritage is Toledo, where a cycle tour encompasses all that this
revered city has to offer. Here we see cradled together landmarks of
different religions, which at one point in history lived close together
in harmony and peace. Toledo has everything to offer: masterpieces and
the studio of the famed painter El Greco, an imposing cathedral of
immense proportions, Synagogues, and the square Alcazar, with its
testimony to some key events of the Spanish Civil War. The City’s maze
of narrow, traffic-free streets provide shelter from the bright
Castillian sun. Embraced by the river Tagus, the ride is as interesting
and enjoyable from its perimeter. Let the breeze caress your face as you
encircle the city, and view its completeness at your own pace.
Now, let us get away from all traces of civilization and
tour the
Sierra de Guadarrama, the range of mountains surrounding Madrid to
the North. We can enjoy its pinewood covered slopes, creeks and rocky
scenery. Let your bicycle do the work for you, as its gears make the
ascent of the hills easier, to be followed by a leisurely descent,
allowing your legs to take a well-deserved rest.
Many thanks to Kaspar of Bravobike, a Madrid based travel agency
offering cycling holidays in Spain. Find more information about
the range of tours they arrange at the link below.
Kaspar.
Bravo Bike
www.bravobike.com |
