Between the coasts and away from the big cities rests the mountainous Spanish countryside, the perfect destination for travelers who are culture-curious, laid back, and seeking a slower paced vacation experience. In this region’s small villages and towns you can settle into the Iberian lifestyle, which extends far beyond the traditional cuisine (made largely from local in-season ingredients) to exploring the area’s vastly untouched natural areas and regional parks. Get the most out of what small-town life and its traditions have to offer by staying in one of central Spain’s country house hotels. Central Spain is a region not to be rushed past on the way to the beach. Country house hotels in Central Spain are themselves some of the truest “gems” of the area.