Brits love Spain, with millions jetting off to its sunny climes every year.

But one area in this top destination has flown under the radar and remained largely free of tourists, earning it a spot in Condé Nast Traveler’s top 50 quiet places around the world.

Arribes del Duero is described as full of “seasonal silences” and is one of the most sparsely populated places in Europe.

David Moralejo wrote for CN Traveler: “In autumn, after the grape harvest, its wines of heroic viticulture will steal your words. Everything turns golden – olives, mulberry, pomegranate, and orange trees await their moment, and the sunsets look like fire.”

Conversely, in winter: “The frost paints a landscape of stillness that takes over the villages. The stove boils ancestral dishes. Spring brings a blanket of blooms – white and yellow flowers, lavender, jasmine, and Serapias – and the streams and waterfalls interrupt the quiescence.

“Summer means that diving into a hidden watering hole is always on the table, and siesta time would be devoid of sound if it weren’t for the cicadas.”

A protected are, the Arribes del Duero lies in western Spain, where the river Duero forms the natural border with Portugal.

Gorges formed by the river’s path are the deepest in Spain, with elevations reaching up to 500 metres, and have created a microclimate similar to the Mediterranean forest.

It is a protected area recognised by the EU for its animals, including golden eagles and black swans, and features a waterfall rising 50 metres in front of tourists, so don’t forget your camera.

There is also history in this region as deep as its gorges, with shepherds’ huts in Torregamones giving visitors an insight of past lives in the area.

Various delicacies including ewes’ cheese, local beef breeds, and Iberian pork are all on offer, which can then be washed down with local wines, which have been awarded the prestigious Spanish “denomination of origin” denoting quality, uniqueness and origin.

Keen hikers will find plenty to keep them occupied, with plenty of hiking routes through gorgeous terrain leading to viewpoints offering unrivalled views of this striking area.

With numerous tour companies offering package deals to explore all the various attractions listed here, it may be time to book a trip to the quieter side of Spain.