Castilla la Mancha

The region of Castilla La Mancha (Castile-la Mancha) is bordered by Castilla Leon, the Madrid region, Aragon, Valencia, Murcia, Andalusia, and Extremadura. It is one of the most sparsely populated of Spain's regions. It's capital city is Toledo, and it's most populous city is Albacete.

Castile-La Mancha is located in the middle of the Iberian peninsula, occupying the greater part of a vast plain, bordered on most sides by vast mountainous ranges. Being a fair distance from the sea leads this region to much more extreme temperatures, which are hotter in the summer, sometimes exceeding 35°, and cold winters with frosts on cloudy nights, and occasional snow.

Castilla La Mancha is divided into 5 provinces named after their capital cities - Albacete, Cuidad Real, Cuenca, Guadalajara and Toledo.

It is mostly in this region where the story of the famous Spanish novel Don Quixote is situated. Although La Mancha is mostly a windswept, battered plateau, it remains a popular symbol of Spanish culture with its sunflowers, mushrooms, olive yards and windmills.

Some places of interest -

Albacete, Alcazar de San Juan, Almansa, Azuqueca de Henares, Campo de Criptana, Ciudad Real, Cuenca, Daimiel, Guadaljara, Hellin, Illescas, Manzanarea, Miguelturra, Puertolloso, La Roda, Sedena, Socuellamos, La Solana, Talavera de la Reina, Tarancon, Toledo, Torrijos, Valdepenas, Villarrobledo.