Ayna is set in one of the most evocative and picturesque locations in Castilla-La Mancha. It is known as the La Mancha Switzerland: the town is nestled in the gorge of the Mundo river, in the Gargantón stretch, opening on to a natural rock balcony. The surrounding area features imposing rocky outcrops, abundant vegetation, snow in winter, a thousand colours in autumn, vegetables growing in terraces climbing up the mountain, water, the fertile river banks – a real paradise uncovered.
The whole picture is nicely visible from the Devil’s Lookout Point (Mirador del Diablo), 1.5 km from Ayna on the road driven from Albacete. This vantage point allows us to see, on the left, one of the region’s most important areas for climbing.
A little lower, inside the town, on the bend called “Rodea Grande”, other large lookout point offer a more detailed view.
When exploring the town’s streets, we’ll discover surprising hidden corners. The town’s appearance is somewhat special: a labyrinth of narrow, stepped streets with bends, nooks and crannies to adapt to the terrain, and homes with white façades. We recommend entering the Chapel of Our Lady of Los Remedios. possibly a Jewish synagogue located on Calle Mayor whose main artistic attraction is the wooden Mudejar roof. The Church of Our Lady of Alto is located in the area known as Postigo. Nearby, we can admire the small Chapel of las Cabrillas. The remains of the Yedra Castle occupy a rocky outcrop with a natural entrance currently called the “Cave of the Moors”, which dominates the valley in both directions.
