There are trips remembered for their landscapes, others for their flavors, and some for their nights. In Albacete, however, you don’t have to choose. This province of Castilla-La Mancha, still largely unknown to many travelers, hides a treasure that isn’t at ground level but above our heads. And it isn’t just a figure of speech. Albacete has become the first province in the world with all its comarcas certified as a Starlight Tourism Destination, an international recognition that certifies the quality of its skies and its commitment to protecting the night sky and sustainable tourism. And indeed its six regions and 86 municipalities offer a multitude of possibilities to enjoy stargazing, a way of traveling that invites us to reconnect with nature and recover something that light pollution has been taking from us: the pleasure of gazing at the stars.
The story behind this recognition began in 2019, when the Provincial Council launched a project to turn the night sky into a tourism and environmental resource. The certifications arrived progressively until, in 2024, the La Mancha-Júcar comarca completed the Starlight map of Albacete.
But what does exactly this distinction mean? The Starlight Foundation, dedicated to protecting the night sky and promoting astronomy, recognizes those territories that meet exceptional conditions for observing the firmament. To obtain it, aspects such as the darkness of the sky, atmospheric transparency, the frequency of clear nights, and the existence of infrastructures and activities linked to astronomy are evaluated.
Six regions to travel among the stars
LA MANCHUELA: STARS OVER THE JÚCAR
Imagine one of the most beautiful towns in Castilla-La Mancha illuminated only by the moon and the stars. That is one of the experiences offered by La Manchuela, the comarca certified in 2022 and made up of 24 municipalities. Here we find places as special as the Las Eras viewpoint, in Alcalá del Júcar, from where the night sky unfolds over the river’s spectacular bend. Another must-stop is Villa de Ves, where the stars can reflect in the waters of the reservoir, creating one of those postcard-perfect scenes.
