Alpuente, Santa Gadea del Cid, Oseira and Vilanova dos Infantes receive their certification as the new Most Beautiful Villages of Spain at FITUR.

The official certification ceremony was held at the Turespaña stand with the participation of institutional and municipal representatives.

The Association of the Most Beautiful Villages in Spain held the official certification ceremony for the four towns that joined the network this year at the FITUR 2026 International Tourism Fair: Alpuente (Valencia), Santa Gadea del Cid (Burgos), Oseira (Ourense), and Vilanova dos Infantes (Ourense). 

The event, held at the Turespaña stand (Hall 9), was attended by the Director General of Turespaña, Miguel Sanz, the president of the Association, Francisco Mestre, as well as municipal representatives, institutional authorities, and representatives of provincial councils and regional administrations. 

During the ceremony, the municipalities officially received their certification after passing a rigorous quality audit, which accredits them as benchmarks for heritage, culture, and sustainable tourism. The ceremony included the screening of a promotional video showcasing the rich landscape and architecture of these new additions. 

The president of the Association, Francisco Mestre, emphasized "the commitment to quality over quantity" and expressed his pride in adding "four new locations" to the network, which reinforce the value of the seal as a benchmark for heritage, culture, and sustainable tourism.

For his part, the director general of Turespaña, Miguel Sanz, reaffirmed the organization's support for Los Pueblos más Bonitos de España and thanked them for their work in Spanish tourism, highlighting the importance of initiatives that promote quality tourism linked to the territory.

The mayor of Alpuente expressed her gratitude for the distinction and emphasized that it recognizes "the beauty of our heritage and the efforts of our residents to preserve our history, traditions, and identity," inviting visitors to come to the municipality "to discover it at their leisure."

The mayor of Santa Gadea del Cid expressed his gratitude for the distinction and stated that he was embarking on this new stage "with great enthusiasm," with a commitment to continue working to make the municipality a benchmark in the province, promoting tourism as a tool to combat depopulation and inviting people to visit its streets and heritage.

The mayor of San Critovo de Cea, referring to Oseira, expressed his gratitude for its incorporation into the network and highlighted "the strength and potential of small rural towns," singling out the Monastery of Oseira as the municipality's main heritage landmark.

Finally, the mayor of Celanova, referring to Vilanova dos Infantes, celebrated "the honor" of joining the network and underlined the commitment to "earn our place," encouraging people to visit the municipality and pointing out that this distinction can help to deseasonalize tourism.

With these four new members, the network Los Pueblos más Bonitos de España continues to consolidate itself as a seal of tourism excellence that already brings together 126 towns committed to preserving their identity and combating depopulation through quality tourism.

About the Association

The Most Beautiful Villages in Spain Association, which already has 126 unique locations, was born out of the conviction and need to make the world aware of the wonderful villages that dot the Spanish landscape. The aim is to promote small, preferably rural, municipalities, grouped under the same quality brand, through promotional activities and cultural events that the association undertakes both inside and outside Spain.

This network encompasses places of great beauty and personality that exude history and culture in equal measure, villages marked by tradition that travelers can enjoy as they explore their streets and mingle with the locals.

The Most Beautiful Villages in Spain brand is a benchmark of prestige and quality at a national and international level. The initiative is based on the French model Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, and the Spanish network is part of the Federation of the Most Beautiful Villages in the World, with networks in France, Italy, Belgium, and Japan. Other countries are creating new associations, such as Russia, Germany, Liechtenstein, Lebanon, Switzerland, and Portugal. The Association was created in Spain in 2010 and was presented three years later with a network of 14 villages. The list has gradually grown to the current 126 locations.