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Home > Travel Spain > Spain Destinations > Cuenca
Cuenca
Spain, officially the Kingdom of Spain, is a country located in Southern Europe, politically organized as a parliamentary monarchy. It is the largest of the three sovereign nations that make up the Iberian Peninsula. The name, Spain comes from the Latin name, Hispania whereas in Spanish it is, Reino de Espana which is shortened to, Espana. Spain has a total area of 505,992 square kilometers or 195,364 square miles consisting of a population of 44,395,286 as of the 1st January 2006 with a density of 87.8 persons per square kilometer or 220 persons per square mile. Its capital and largest city is Madrid.
Cuenca is a city in the autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha in central Spain. It is the capital of the province of Cuenca. Its name may derive from Latin, conca, meaning, river basin, and referring to the gorge of the rivers Jucar and Huecar. It may also be derived from the now-ruined Arab castle, Kunka. Its medieval town can still be explored. Other alternative original names are contemplated, including Anitorgis, Sucro or Concava. The city of Cuenca is also known as the Eagle's Nest because of its position on the hill.
As of 2004, a population of 47,862 inhabits this beautiful and ancient city, which is declared a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is famous for its casas colgantes or casas colgadas literally, hanging houses, which are on the edge of the gorge of the river Huecar. While its collection of historical buildings is not as impressive as Toledo or Salamanca, it offers a unique mixture of nature and human constructions. Its landscapes are particularly wonderful in autumn, due to the mix of green, yellow and red colours in the gorges of the two rivers.
The city is a popular day or weekend trip of about 160 kilometer from Madrid, to which it is connected by rail and by highway, and is home to numerous museums, including the Museum of Spanish Abstract Art. Other attractions include the Cuenca Cathedral.
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