FROM lavender fields near Madrid to sunflower fields in Castilla-La Mancha, these are the best places to see Spain in bloom this summer.
Sierra de Gredos
Stretching across the provinces of Madrid, Salamanca and Avila, the Sierra de Gredos is one of the best places to visit at the start of summer, when around 650km of mountain landscape turns bright yellow with blooming piornos (Scotch broom) from May to June.
The best spots to see the flowers in bloom are Hoyos del Espino, Naverredonda de Gredos and Bohoyo, where there are over 60 dedicated viewpoints – all just over two hours from Madrid and around an hour from Salamanca.
Tenerife
Tenerife is home to red bugloss, which blooms between May and June.
Native to the Canary Islands, the flower is mainly found in Teide National Park, where its vivid red colour stands out against the island’s volcanic landscape.
The flower is part of a fragile ecosystem, so visitors are urged to stick to marked trails and respect protected areas.
Guadalajara
Just a short drive from Madrid, the province of Guadalajara is home to some of Spain’s most spectacular lavender fields, which burst into colour in late June and typically bloom through July.
If you head to Brihuega, nicknamed the Spanish Provence and known locally as the pueblo lavanda (lavender village), you can take a guided tour of the fields for €3.
If hiking is more your speed, you can walk from Brihuega to the iconic fields in about three hours, either with a guide or independently.
Andalucia
From June to August, Andalusia’s agricultural landscape turns bright yellow as sunflowers bloom.
Carmona, just a 30-minute drive from Seville, is one of the best places to see them in all their glory.
In the summer the town is surrounded by a 74km sea of sunflowers, attracting thousands of tourists each year.
Sunflowers are crops, often grown on private farmland, so visits should be made only from designated paths, without entering fields or damaging the plants.
Aragonese Pyrenees
In the Aragonese Pyrenees, visitors can enjoy sweeping vistas of mountain wildflowers between June and August.
As the snow melts, alpine meadows give way to mountain wildflowers, including irises, daffodils, orchids and lilies that line hiking trails in the summer months.
Aragon’s Ordesa and Huesca valley are the perfect place to combine a spot of floral tourism with spectacular hiking trails.
Click here to read more Olive Press Travel News from The Olive Press.
