Artistic Town La Alberca & First Experience with Ham

From the old town, a 1-hour drive brings you to an ancient town full of stories, still located in the Comunidad de Castilla y León region. This small town, with a history dating back to prehistoric times, is home to over 1,000 people. The town is quaint and quiet, with stone houses and crisscrossing alleys, offering a unique charm. The historical sedimentation not only brings a quaint environment but also an artistic atmosphere and people who enjoy life. Even the drainpipes are unique, each house having its own style. Everything proceeds in a slow-paced atmosphere. We happened to see a display of traditional costumes here, full of ethnic flavor. A landmark sculpture in the town is a pig with a bell around its neck. Among the many festivals in the town, there is a special one—San Antón Festival. Every year on June 13th, a ceremony is held in the town: a pig is blessed, a bell is hung around its neck, and it is then released. This pig is called the 'Pig of San Antón.' ⏰ Another 1-hour drive brings you to the city of Guijuelo. The main industry in Guijuelo is food processing, and it is also the designated main production area for top-quality Iberian ham, known as the cradle of Iberian ham. Experiencing ham here is a must! At Alma de Ibérico, I first learned about ham culture. From the production process to the grades of ham and the ways to eat it, it was an eye-opener! Here, you can not only experience traditional Spanish cuisine and taste authentic red wine 🍷 but also eat the highest quality Iberian ham! Looking at the translucent slices of ham, my mouth couldn't stop watering! The authentic ham tastes like this! It's a must-try experience!