Aýna, the Manchegan Switzerland

Aýna, known as the “Manchegan Switzerland” for its steep relief and unexpected beauty, is one of those places that seem almost too spectacular to be real. The village sits on Mount San Urbán, in the heart of the Sierra del Segura (Albacete), at 674 metres above sea level, literally perched on the rock and overlooking the deep canyon carved by the Mundo River over millions of years.

The whitewashed houses unfold in impossible terraces, with narrow, winding streets that adapt to the mountainside. Aýna combines a millennia‑old history with an unexpected cultural prominence: it became, almost unintentionally, an icon of Spanish cinema thanks to Amanece, que no es poco. José Luis Cuerda chose this location for its surreal landscape, perfect for the film’s absurd humour. As you arrive along the winding road, it’s impossible not to stop at the famous sidecar, now an obligatory photo spot.

Aýna is part of the official “Amanece, que no es poco” Route, together with Liétor and Molinicos, a trail that allows visitors to relive the film’s most iconic scenes and locations.

The route: AÝ‑01 Circular de los Picarzos

Since we were passing through and wanted to stretch our legs, we chose the AÝ‑01 Circular de los Picarzos, one of the signposted routes in the municipality. It’s an easy and very rewarding walk, perfect for discovering the immediate surroundings of the village.

The only initial “problem” is deciding where to park, because depending on where you leave the car, you’ll have more or less distance to walk before reaching the actual start of the route.

We began by descending towards the Correras Bridge and the Toba Stream Waterfall. We then continued along the bank of the Mundo River, upstream, before turning to skirt around the Picarzos, passing through Collado Llanico and reaching the Peñapesquera Viewpoint, one of the most beautiful natural balconies on the route.

We continued towards La Covacha, a very distinctive rock formation, and from there descended to cross the river again via the Alcudia Bridge. The route ends by climbing back up through Aýna’s white streets, passing the Church of Nuestra Señora de lo Alto and visiting the remains of the Castle of La Yedra, an 11th‑century fortress built by taking advantage of a natural cavity known as the Cave of the Moors.

It’s an easy, family‑friendly and very complete route, ideal for combining nature, heritage and cinema. And if you want to end the day properly, make sure to book a table in advance at one of the village restaurants — improvising is usually impossible.

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